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: Artist's Major Career Highlights: Reigned as the foremost authority on Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki ceramics from the 1930s to the 1990s. [1933] Inherited the family business and began activities as Heian Soku III, [1935] spent 17 years as a researcher at the National Ceramic Research Institute, engaging in research on ceramic production techniques and providing technical guidance to pottery factories, [1953] spent 15 years at the Kyoto Institute of Technology, dedicating efforts to ceramic education, mentoring future technicians, and conducting research, [1970] dispatched to the Republic of China for 5 years as a technical assistance officer for developing countries by the Japanese government, providing technical guidance to the country's ceramic industry and training its technicians while simultaneously conducting research on Eastern ceramics, held prestigious positions such as Advisor to the Union Industrial Research Institute, Republic of China, and Lecturer at the Chinese Culture College University, and thereafter concentrated on ceramic creation in Rakunan, Kyoto, [1978] received the Prime Minister's Award, the highest honor for all craft artists, at the 25th Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, [1984] awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, 5th Class.
- Published Works: [Around 1935-1952: Era as a Researcher at the National Ceramic Research Institute] Overview of Domestic Ceramic Raw Materials, [Around 1935-1952: Era as a Researcher at the National Ceramic Research Institute] Selected Collection of Ceramic Clay Blending, [Around 1970-1975: Era of Dispatch to the Republic of China (Taiwan)] Technical and Economic Status of the Taiwanese Ceramic Industry, [Around 1970-1975: Era of Dispatch to the Republic of China (Taiwan)] Ceramic Industry of Taiwan, [Around 1970-1975: Era of Dispatch to the Republic of China (Taiwan)] Current Status and Trends of Architectural Ceramics in Southeast Asian Countries, etc.
- 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.
