Potter: Kamei Masaru

Approximate size: W6.9″ by 4.7 by H2.0″ or 17.5 by 12.0 by 5.0cm

This is a set of 2 kashiki or tea dishes by the famous exhibition-potter Masaru Kamei (1933-). Now retired, Masaru Kamei worked in the Seto style which is centered around Seto City in modern day Aichi prefecture. Very seldom seen these items have the shape of a pentagon, with five sides and five angles. Its a not often seen shape. Like the single square kashiki by Masaru Kamei, these also sit on 3 small legs – making them stable regardless of whether the surface they rest on is uneven. The sides are decorated in decorative designs of stripes, fishnets and decorations of flora.

1967 Contemporary Crafts & Arts Exhibition, received the Contemporary Crafts Award 1972 The Foreign Minister’s Award at Japan Modern Art Crafts Exhibition
1973 The Chun-ichi International Ceramic Exhibition Grand Prize
1974 & 1976 Nitten Exhibition Special Award

Masaru Kamei was born in Aichi prefecture in 1933. He studied and graduated from Aichi prefecture’s Seto pottery senior high school before apprenticing himself under his father, a master potter in his own right. He won his first prize at the Nitten Exhibition in 1953 and was the youngest to win this prize ever in its history. However after he received his first prize in 1953, he quit to exhibit his works at any exhibitions for several years to concentrate and refocus himself on creating his original pottery style. When he felt he had a style of his own (a style of metallic and abstract works created with black clay). Masaru Kamei became famous as an avant-garde potter in Japan and his outstanding works received many prizes. He also held many trainings abroad and his works has received high evaluation both in and out of the country.

Masaru Kamei won the Blue-ribbon award at the great Nitten Exhibition in 1974 and in 1976. it is the highest award for potters entering this career-making competition.

Kashiki are vessels on which sweets are placed. There are many kinds such as lacquer-ware, ceramic and plain wood. However kashiki are generally not used for omogashi when there are multiple guests. For those occasions there often are different vessels are used, usually those sets consist of 5 or 6 pieces and are called meimei-zara. Omogashi are small sweets which are served before the drinking of koicha, thick matcha tea during the Tea ceremony.

Omogashi, “main sweet,” are made for serving before koicha. They are served after the kaiseki meal and before (or when it is very hot in the summer, during) the nakadachi break, before the second half of the chaji.

Omogashi for koicha are properly served in lacquer fuchidaka, trays “with high sides” which evolved in Daitokuji. Usually now consisting of 5 layers and one lid, there are several konomi available, starting with Rikyu-gata shin-nuri, as well as ceramic and even glass fuchidaka. For serving a kininーnoble, a single, 4-footed, new, wooden (kiji), fuchidaka is used.

The most formal style is to serve omogashi in individual lidded lacquer bowls called kashi-wan. Usually sweets served this way are heated and the bowl keeps them hot.

1992 Aichi Prefecture Arts and Culture Award, Culture Award, Frankfurt City, Germany
1993 Tradition and Avant-garde Crafts Exhibition in Japan Today, Bremen, Germany
1994 The Japan Modern Art Crafts Exhibition Prime Minister Prize
1996 Contemporary Crafts Japan’s New Arts and Crafts Exhibition
Received Aichi prefecture’s Education Award (Culture)

During the Meiji period, Seto ware adapted Western techniques, gaining great popularity. In addition to plain Seto, the Mino kilns also produced several types of Seto wares from the mid 16th century, including Seto-guro (black Seto), and Ki-Seto (yellow Seto). Ki-seto, fired at the same kilns as Shino and Seto-guro wares during the Momoyama period, featured “fried bean-curd” glaze, Aburagede (油揚げ abura-age or aburage), developed in emulation of Chinese celadons. It utilizes an iron-rich wood-ash glaze and is reduction fired at a high temperature to produce a texture and bone colour alike celadon; in an oxygen-rich kiln, the minerals in the clay and glaze create a distinctive opaque yellow glaze.

2000 The Japan Modern Art Crafts Exhibition Minister for Education Prize
Received Seto Province’s Public Merit Award
2012 The 44th Nitten Exhibition Minister of Education Prize
Received Minister of Science’s Commendation at the 44th Fine Arts Exhibition of Education, Culture & Sports

The set has no chips or cracks and condition is mint. Comes with the original quality paulownia tomobako with kiln stamp and calligraphy on either side of the lid. This kashiki is hand-signed opposed to bearing a stamp. Using unique and handmade utensils like these ones can change the atmosphere and your perception when displayed in your home or using them in your own personalized ritual, be it in a formal gathering or just a afternoon snack.

€200 175 + shipping cost