Takami Katsuyo (高見勝代) Japanese, b.1947

A Bizen Tokkuri (備前徳利)

Heisei Era (1989-2019) 

About the work

This Bizen tokkuri by Takami Katsuyo demonstrates a quiet authority rooted in traditional Bizen practice. The vessel has a compact, well balanced form, with rounded shoulders rising into a short, slightly flared neck. Its proportions feel deliberate and stable, emphasizing usability while retaining a strong sculptural presence.
The surface bears classic wood fired Bizen characteristics. Earthy reddish brown tones are layered with ash gray and olive colored kiln effects, formed through prolonged exposure to flame and ash within the kiln. Subtle fire marks, natural ash accretions, and granular clay textures create a richly varied surface that shifts with viewing angle. These kiln born effects highlight the natural dialogue between clay, fire, and placement, central to the Bizen aesthetic.

The base is neatly finished and bears the artist’s mark. The tokkuri is accompanied by its original wooden storage box, inscribed by the artist, confirming authenticity and provenance.

Dimensions

14.2cm(h) x 10.5cm(w)

Footnote

Takami Katsuyo was born in 1947 in Okayama Prefecture. After graduating high school, she worked in the local ceramic industry before studying under the Bizen artist Inoue Yoshika in 1966. She later joined the East Chugoku Branch of the Japan Kōgei Association and continued to refine her approach to Bizen ware, blending traditional methods with a sensibility shaped by her own perspective. Her work emphasizes modest, functional forms and the quiet aesthetic of unglazed Bizen clay, earning recognition within regional exhibitions and through her long career as a ceramic artist.