Furutani Michio (古谷道生), Japanese, 1946–2000

A Shigaraki Guinomi (信楽 ぐい呑) 

Showa Era (1926-1989) or Heisei Era (1989-2019) 

About the work

A refined and highly tactile Shigaraki ware kyūsu tea pot by Furutani Michio, celebrated for his expressive exploration of traditional anagama-fired ceramics. The compact rounded body is paired with a sharply angled side handle and short spout, creating a strikingly asymmetrical silhouette rooted in Japanese tea culture. The surface displays the natural ash effects and soft feldspathic textures characteristic of high-fired Shigaraki ware, with subtle transitions between warm ivory, pale beige, and deep orange fire markings.

The piece demonstrates Furutani’s mastery of wood-firing techniques, where accidental kiln effects become integral to the composition. The rough yet carefully controlled texture, together with the natural scorch marks and ash deposits, gives the vessel a quiet rustic elegance associated with the aesthetics of wabi-sabi. Both sculptural and functional, the work embodies the enduring appeal of contemporary Shigaraki ceramics.

Signed to the underside and accompanied by the original inscribed wooden tomobako.

Dimensions

9.6cm(h) x 16cm(w) x 13.2cm(d)

Footnote

Furutani Michio was a master of Shigaraki ware and a leading figure in the revival of the traditional anagama kiln. Born in Shigaraki, he dedicated his life to wood-fired ceramics, building over thirty kilns and pioneering techniques that created rich natural ash glazes (shizen-yū) and glassy biidoro effects. Celebrated for his raw, elemental forms, Furutani received major honors including the Japan Ceramic Society Prize. His legacy lives on through his writings, his influence on contemporary wood-firing, and the ongoing work of his son, Furutani Kazuya.