Yoshijo Kubo (1913-1989), known as Heian Sokyu, is one of the most distinguished master craftsmen who connected the tradition of Kyo ware to modern times. Having inherited the family business in 1933 and continuing the authentic techniques of the first and second generations of Sokyu, he reigned as a leading figure in Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki from the Showa to Heisei periods. His achievements are highly acclaimed; he received the Prime Minister's Award, the highest honor for Japanese artisans, at the 25th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition in 1978, and the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays, in 1984. His works are housed in major public museums in Japan, such as The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, and The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, officially establishing their artistic value.
This piece is a Tenmoku Yo-hen (Kiln Transformation) water dropper created by Yoshijo Kubo's masterful technique. Tenmoku Yo-hen is an advanced technique where the glaze transforms into unique crystals and colors due to the complex action of flames within the kiln, possessing a one-of-a-kind beauty resulting from the intersection of the artist's calculations and the natural serendipity of the flames. As he passed away in 1989, his works are now highly rare posthumous pieces by a deceased master that can no longer be newly produced.
This tool, originally conceived as a calligraphy instrument for dripping water drop by drop, is redefined by our shop as a "Water Dropper" for enjoying Western spirits or rare aged spirits that have matured for decades. High-purity alcohol and aged spirits that have been bottled for decades experience a moment of "blooming" when a very small amount of water is added, changing the surface tension and dramatically opening up the complex layers of aroma and flavor that were trapped. To control this extremely delicate change, the shape of this water dropper, which can precisely control water drop by drop, is ideal.
Its use is surprisingly intuitive and elegant. By lightly pressing a small air hole on the top of the main body with your fingertip and slightly adjusting the pressure, you can control the airflow into the interior in millimeter increments. This allows you to quietly guide the intended "single drop" into the amber liquid.
The supreme form created by the Prime Minister's Award-winning artist is not only a functional tool for bringing out the true charm of aged spirits but also a proposal for the luxury of enjoying traditional Japanese beauty in daily life. This rare Japanese craft, with limited information available globally, is a unique existence for collectors seeking the finest sake ware and spirit accessories.
*Artist's comment: Works applied with black-based glazes are commonly called Tenmoku. Tenmoku is the oldest glazed pottery in the East, and its origin is said to have been discovered in the ancient kilns of Yuezhou in Deqing County during the Wu-Pu period (3rd-4th century) in China. Its colors range widely from black to brown, and the variations are infinite—including those with mottled crystal patterns, those partially discolored, and those transformed by layering glazes of other colors. Ancient Chinese Tenmoku calligraphy tools often featured not just a single black color but also partially discolored areas. Referring to various historical materials, I created this piece with a composition of Tenmoku black and other colors.
- Artist: Heian Sokyu (Yoshijo Kubo, 1913-1989)
- Representative Activities: Reigned as a leading figure in Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki from the Showa to Heisei periods. Inherited the family business in 1933 and began activities as the third-generation Sokyu. [1978] Received the "Prime Minister's Award," the highest honor in the Japanese craft world, at the 25th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition. [1984] Received the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays. His achievements solidified the status of Kyo-yaki Akae and Tenmoku techniques in the history of Japanese art.
- Museum Collections: The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo; The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto; Kyoto Prefecture; and others.
- Production Period: 1984-1989 (Mature period after receiving the Prime Minister's Award). This "Tenmoku Yo-hen" piece features complex crystals and deep colors created by the accidental interplay of fire and glaze. It is a masterpiece from his "Golden Age," representing the culmination of refined form and technique pursued by the artist until his final years.
- Condition: Very good (No chips, no cracks)
- Accessories: Original wooden box (Tomobako, signed and sealed by the artist), introductory leaflet
- Material: Pottery (Kyo-yaki / Tenmoku Yo-hen)
- Dimensions: Width approx. 5.0 cm, Height approx. 7.0 cm
- Note: Please note that all products offered by our shop, even if in unused condition, are from vintage production periods and are listed as used. Items may show minor age-related wear; please confirm the condition before purchasing.
