Potter: Shunji Kato, nidai or 2nd generation

Approximate size: W4.8″ by W4.7″ by H2.7″ or 12.3 by 12.0 by 6.8cm

This is a fine nezumi or gray Shino chawan or tea bowl by the 2nd generation master-potter Shunji Kato (1892-1979). He was born to the first generation and studied with his father, eventually inheriting the title of Kato Shunji in the year 1912. A book about this famous potter entitled: “The Works of Kato Shunji” was published in Nagoya in Showa 55 (1980). Like his father he mainly worked making tea bowls and innovated the use of traditional Seto ware glazes. Shunji Kato stems from Seto City in Aichi prefecture and during his long life he became a potter of great renown. He was awarded the title Intangible Cultural Treasure of Aichi prefecture in 1975. A fine piece that speaks for itself.

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1892 Born in Seto City
1926 Assumed master’s name of the 2nd Shunji Kato as successor
Later he was working as exclusive craftsman of the Matsuoryu
1940 Built Kannon for the war dead memorial.
1975 He was recognized as intangible cultural heritage as potter Oribe and Old Seto in Aichi prefecture
1979 Passed away

Also recorded is that, around the middle of the Showa era (1926-1989), he used an old Seto kiln called Aoi-gama (Aoi kiln), to make many of his works. Works produced there were marked differently from works later. During the Tokugawa shogunate the kiln was exclusively used for the production of wares to be used by the reigning clan at the time – the Tokugawa family (and shogunate).

In 1940, in honour of all those who died during the war he worked with Buddhist potter Shibata Seifu on the Koa Kannon. A famous statue of the Bodhisattva of compassion, located atop Mount Izu in Atami.