Potter: Kano Mitsuo
Approximate size: W5.0″ by H2.8″ or 12.8 by 7.2cm
This is a curious chawan, ceremonial tea bowl by the celebrated potter Mitsuo Kano (1903-1970). Kano Mitsuo studied under Komori Shinobu (1889-1962), and at Kyoto City Pottery Research School. Art seems to have ran in the family as his brother became a noted artist as well. Born as the younger brother of Kano Matsutani its no surprise they encouraged each-other. Although their work is different from one another, being that Kano Mitsuo had an interest for a wide range of techniques and methods used in the making of pottery. His brother’s artistic influence had been more specific and he focused fully on a select number of techniques for his entire career. He received the Ministry of Education Grand Prize in 1998 and his work is represented in the collections of the National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto and the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and numerous others. Having a long career he had numerous students, one of which was Minoru Nishikawa from Kyoto.
After the end of the Pacific war the attribute Imperial was no longer trendy. Everything was reorganized and renamed. In 1946 the Imperial Art Academy became The Japan Fine Arts Exhibition, abbreviated as Nitten. The Nitten has developed into a large organization. Today the Nitten has five art faculties, Japanese Style Painting, Western Style Painting, Sculpture, Craft as Art and Calligraphy.
Prior to the war when the Nitten was still the Imperial Exhibition, he submitted his work with success and shorty after, in the years 1948 through 1952 he participated in the formation of the famed Sodeisha group (led by Yagi Kazu). Which concluded in the formation of the Hakuhokai Assocation, which included many famed potters including Kusube Yaichi, Miyashita Yoshitoshi, the sandai or third generation Toyama Ito, Asami Ryuzo and a number of other artists. In 1967, he won the 10th Nitten Exhibitions Minister of Education Award, one of the most coveted prizes. For decades this artist dominated the competitive scene.
Mitsuo having experienced a more diverse curriculum in his formative years his body of work is quite diverse. This tea bowl is auspiciously different from two chawan added in the past. Based on a half cylinder form, it has a finely shaped shoulder and a clean-cut shaped koudai or foot-ring. A translucent glaze (becoming white where thickest), covers reddish clay and decorated with hand-painted calligraphy (presumably a poem). When studying the red clay it shows small specs of white granules all throughout.
Mitsuo Kano won the Blue-ribbon award at the great Nitten Exhibition in 1974 and in 1976. The highest award for potters entering this famously career-making competition.
In excellent condition and avoid of cracks or chips. Comes accompanied by the original paulownia tomobako or storage box with the potter’s calligraphy and seal both sides of the lid. The bowl is stamped on the inside of the koudai, foot ring and comes wrapped in a tomonunu or tea cloth.
€320 + shipping cost
Famous works sold for high prices at auction houses such as Christie’s both before and after his passing. He won the Blue-Ribbon award of one of the most famous Japanese Art Exhibitions, Nitten Exhibition in 1949.
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