Yoshimoto Tadashi (吉本正) Japanese, b. 1943

A Bizen Tokkuri (備前徳利)

Showa Era (1926-1989), Heisei Era (1989-2019) or Reiwa Era (2019-present)

About the work

This Bizen tokkuri by Yoshimoto Tadashi presents a compact, rounded form that rises into a narrow, upright neck, giving the piece a poised and balanced silhouette. The surface is animated by natural kiln effects: deep earthen reds, areas of darkened charcoal tone, and a constellation of gold-flecked ash that settled during firing. These variations appear without applied glaze, created entirely through the interaction of clay, flame, and ash within the wood-fired kiln. The transitions between matte and lightly vitrified areas add depth, while the vessel’s subtle asymmetry underscores its hand-formed character.

The base bears the artist’s mark. The work is accompanied by its original signed tomobako and cloth.

Dimensions

13.8cm(h) x 8.8cm(w)

Footnote

Yoshimoto Tadashi is born in 1943 in Bizen’s Shizutani district. He is trained under Living National Treasure Fujiwara Kei beginning in 1964. He established his kiln in 1975 and went on to earn repeated selections in major national ceramic exhibitions while receiving numerous awards throughout the 1980s and 1990s. His career includes international showings, public commissions, and sustained recognition within the Japan Traditional Crafts Association. In 2007 he was designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property Holder of Okayama Prefecture, underscoring his prominence in modern Bizen ceramics.