Potter: Shinkai Kanzan

Approximate size: W5.3″ by H3.0″ or 13.5 by 7.7cm

Hand-painted in gold and silver accents are cranes in flight. This chawan or ceremonial tea bowl was made by the famous potter and artist Kanzan Shinkai. A deftly piece thrown out of high quality clay.

Following many prizes, in 1974 he was granted the Governors prize at the Nitten, and in 1980 the Nihon Geijutsu-in Sho (Japanese Art Academy prize). In 1989 he was awarded the Kyoto Prefectural Cultural Order of Merit for his life-long endeavors. Works by him are held in the Kyoto National Museum of Modern Art among others.

This artist joined the ranks of few others who received the highest honors in form of the Blue ribbon award in 1951 at the great Nitten exhibition (Teiten). In addition the Japanese government gave him the 4rd class, the Order of the rising Sun in 1984. He was one of the greatest Japanese potters of the 20th century.

Kanzan Shinkai was born in 1912 and learned from Kiyomizu Rokubei VI, a Japanese National Treasure of ceramics. He came from a distinguished line of Kyoto artists, his grandfather being Seifu Yohei III a very famous Kyoto potter. Shinkan was awarded innumerable prizes, one being at the 1939 San Francisco Expo right before his career was interrupted and he was forced to go to Siberia with the military. He was in a Russian Gulag until 1948 when he came back to Japan and resumed his pottery. He won the Gold Prize at the 1951 Japanese Art Expo.

The chawan has no chips or cracks and is in excellent condition. Comes with the original quality paulownia tomobako or storage box with the potter’s stamp and calligraphy on the lid.

---

SOLD

Thank you very much!