Kozo Kato (加藤孝造), Japanese (1935-2023)

A Shino Tokkuri (志野徳利)

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

About the work

This refined Shino tokkuri exemplifies the mature artistry of Kozo Kato, one of the preeminent figures in modern Mino ceramics. The vessel displays a soft pink-hued shino feldspathic glaze enriched with milky white fukizumi drips, creating a gently mottled, atmospheric surface. The warm orange tones of the underlying clay emerge along the base and shoulder, adding depth and natural variation characteristic of Kozo’s Shino work. The form, quietly swelling toward the lower body and tapering into a narrow, well-defined neck, reflects both functional clarity and sculptural sensitivity. 

Presented in its original signed wooden box, this tokkuri represents the sophisticated restraint and textural nuance that define Kozo’s distinctive approach to contemporary Shino.

Dimensions

16.6cm(h) x 10.8cm(w)

Footnote

Born in 1935 in Mizunami, Gifu Prefecture, Kozo Kato was a key figure in the lineage of Mino ceramics. As a third-generation successor of the Mino tradition, he carried forward the legacy established by first-generation master Toyozo Arakawa. Kato served as president, honorary president, and advisor of the Mino Ceramic Society and was honored as a citizen of merit in Mizunami, Tajimi, and Kani.