Potter:  Mizuno Shuzan

Approximate size: W4.7″ by H3.3″ or 12 by 8.5cm

This is a high-class Shino tea bowl made by veteran potter Shuzan Mizuno. This artist managed to make his work distinct in the vast world of Mino. Shino falls under the Mino influence of old which nowadays is Gifu prefecture. This is a monumental chawan with a very thick and creamy feldspar glaze which fluxed to a nice purple. This type of glaze tends to easily flow out of control making it difficult to control. The dark burned area’s of the glaze have a higher iron content than the surrounding feldspar which is burned during the excessive wood firing. This is well balanced work meant for formal use in the Tea ceremony. It is worth mentioning that the interior (while difficult to see on the photos above (and even harder to capture on camera)), has a thick layer of glaze as seen on the outside of the bowl. Having studied this chawan in hand I can vouch for its exceptional quality, atmosphere and beauty.

Shuzan Mizuno has an impressive track record that amongst a host of other prizes includes the Prime Minister Award. A full summary of his accomplishments is planned to be added in the future.

The first Shino ware was developed during the Momoyama period (1568–1600), in kilns in the Mino and Seto areas. The glaze, composed primarily of ground local feldspar and a small amount of local clay, produced a satiny white colour. It was the first white glaze used in Japanese ceramics. Wares decorated with Shino were fired in the anagama kilns used at that time. Anagama kilns were single-chambered kilns made from a trench in a hillside that was covered with an earthen roof. As the anagama kilns were replaced by the multi-chambered noborigama kilns during the first decade of the 17th century, Shino was supplanted by the Oribe ware glazes used in the newer kilns. Shino enjoyed a brief revival in the 19th century but then seemingly faded into obscurity.

Emperor Hirohito who ruled during the Showa era was particularly fond of Shuzan Mizuno’s work and twice ordered his work for personal use and display in the imperial palace.

Pottery has been produced in the Mino area of Gifu prefecture since the Kamakura period (the end of the 12th century). The main names synonymous with Mino are Oribe, Shino and ki-Seto. It is said that Shino was the first ware to decorate its pieces with brush-drawn designs as shown on this example. Before the use of brush-drawn decorations potters had been carving, incising or were appliquéing their ideas and fantasies.

---