Fumio Kawabata (川端文男), Japanese, b.1948

A Bizen Yunomi (備前湯呑)  

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

About the work

A Bizen ware yunomi by Fumio Kawabata, formed as a tall cylindrical drinking vessel with a gently irregular profile and softly undulating rim. The simple form provides a restrained setting for the varied colours and textures created during firing.

The exterior displays a particularly warm palette of reddish orange and russet tones, interrupted by a broad area of pale cream and grey firing colour. Diagonal marks sweep vigorously across the surface, introducing movement and emphasising the hand worked character of the vessel. The unglazed clay and natural kiln effects give the surface considerable variation from one side to another.

Inside, the firing has produced deeper reddish brown tones towards the base, contrasting with the brighter orange coloration around the walls and rim. The underside is largely pale and unglazed, clearly revealing the character of the Bizen clay and the marks left during forming.

The yunomi is accompanied by its original signed wooden tomobako together with documentation.

Dimensions

8.1cm(h) x 6.7cm(w)

Footnote

Fumio Kawabata, a Yokohama native, uniquely contributes to Bizen pottery by incorporating his own distinct style. Awarded the Grand Prize at the Modern Tea Forms Exhibition at the Tanabe Museum of Art, he has also been honored with several prestigious recognitions, including the Japanese Traditional Craft Art Exhibition, Chunichi International Exhibition of Ceramic Arts, and Chanoyu Zokei (Modern Tea Forms) Exhibition. His works are known for their distinctive creativity and fresh interpretations of Bizen aesthetics.