This piece is a yakishime water dropper featuring a stamped pattern and a three-footed design, crafted by Hiroyuki Kitagawa (1955–2017), a master craftsman who underwent four years of rigorous training as a live-in inner disciple under Moriyasu Kimura, a world-renowned master of Tenmoku and iron glazes. Among traditional water droppers used to pour water into inkstones in Japanese calligraphy culture, this piece is extremely rare, featuring a unique three-footed design. We proudly propose it as a premium water dropper or whisky dropper to enhance contemporary luxury bar experiences. When savoring rare aged spirits that have transformed over time into a deep amber hue, exuding rich aromas and mellow richness, or enjoying a carefully selected whisky with ice, just a few drops of water added with this vessel will intensely unlock the true fragrance of the drink, making it an ultimate tool for connoisseurs. This vessel, which elevates traditional East Asian forms into practical art for modern lifestyles, offers a supremely luxurious experience for international collectors and discerning guests.
Hiroyuki Kitagawa, the artist, was born in Kyoto Prefecture and inherited the artisanal spirit of his grandfather, a master bamboo craftsman. He was a talented ceramic artist of Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki, fusing traditional techniques with a contemporary sensibility. While studying at Kyoto Zokei Geijutsu Gakuin (Kyoto Institute of Design), he apprenticed under Moriyasu Kimura in 1977, learning a strict aesthetic, and continued to train under him for four years. Concurrently, in 1978, he graduated from the molding department of Kyoto Prefectural Ceramics Vocational Training School, mastering highly precise potter's wheel forming techniques. After opening his own kiln, Tobo Yasaburo, in Tsuzuki-gun, Kyoto Prefecture in 1987, he rose to prominence, starting with his selection for the Asahi Modern Craft Exhibition and the Shinsho Kogei-kai Exhibition in 1988, and again for the Asahi Modern Craft Exhibition in 1991. Furthermore, in 1992, he achieved the remarkable feat of being selected for the highly prestigious Suntory Museum of Art Grand Prize Exhibition '92: Challenging Forms, and was also successively selected for the Sapporo Art Park Craft Exhibition, the Asahi Ceramics Exhibition, and the Kyoten. Afterward, he continued to achieve brilliant results in major public exhibitions at the forefront of contemporary crafts, receiving the Encouragement Award at the Shinbi Kogei-kai Exhibition in 1995 and the Shimpō Kogyo Award at the same exhibition in 1997. Due to his sudden passing at the young age of 62 in 2017, all existing works are his posthumous creations, making it absolutely impossible for new pieces to be produced in the future, thus possessing extremely high rarity.
The essence of Kitagawa's pottery lies in his highly skilled control of iron glazes and various slip glazes inherited from his mentor, and his meticulous yakishime technique, expressed with overwhelming precision as its foundation. Generally, yakishime is a simple technique where the clay itself is fired at high temperatures without any glaze. However, the greatest excellence of his work lies in meticulously covering the surface with fine granular patterns by precisely timing the firing just before the clay dries and repeatedly making countless accurate indentations. In addition to this painstaking manual work, the natural ash glaze created by wood ash falling naturally during kiln firing combines to produce a serene and modern landscape as intended, involving an extremely difficult firing process.
A detailed examination of the aesthetic beauty of this piece reveals that these advanced techniques and the artist's dedication are fully realized within this small spherical form. The minuscule stamped patterns, meticulously etched across the entire surface without any deviation, create delicate shadows when light hits them and convey a uniquely pleasant, adhering texture when held. Furthermore, the three feet placed at the bottom, a special and notable design in this work, carry a very high risk of causing cracks at the joint with the main body or wobbling after firing due to differences in shrinkage rates during drying and high-temperature firing. The forming technique that allows these to stand perfectly horizontally without any distortion is nothing less than proof of the high-precision craftsmanship he cultivated during his vocational school days. This three-footed style evokes an elegant dignity reminiscent of classical East Asian vessel aesthetics, and when placed on a bar counter, it slightly elevates the vessel, creating beautiful three-dimensional shadows and exuding a special presence. Additionally, the natural ash that fell during the intense flames of the climbing kiln perfectly integrates with the clay surface, partially creating subtle green and dark brown gradations from the natural glaze, thus capturing the dramatic moment where fire and earth become one within the vessel. The bottom of the vessel is engraved with the signature "Hiro" (宏), indicating it is an authentic work by the artist, and it comes with a dedicated tomobako (wooden box signed and sealed by the artist himself), a wrapping cloth, and a booklet showing his detailed pottery chronology, all intact. It is a complete piece in very good condition without any chips or cracks, possessing an unwavering asset value as a supreme Japanese craft piece that is extremely difficult to obtain overseas.
- Artist: Hiroyuki Kitagawa (1955-2017)
- Artist's Representative Activities: [1977] Graduated from Kyoto Zokei Geijutsu Gakuin, selected for the Kyoto Craft Exhibition, [1978] Graduated from Kyoto Prefectural Ceramics Vocational Training School, [1987] Opened the kiln "Tobo Yasaburo", [1988] Selected for the Asahi Modern Craft Exhibition and the Shinsho Kogei-kai Exhibition, [1991] Selected for the Asahi Modern Craft Exhibition, [1992] Selected for the Suntory Museum of Art Grand Prize Exhibition '92: Challenging Forms, selected for the Sapporo Art Park Craft Exhibition, the Asahi Ceramics Exhibition, and the Kyoten, [1995] Received the Encouragement Award at the Shinbi Kogei-kai Exhibition, [1996] Selected for the Nissin Men-bachi Grand Prize Exhibition, [1997] Received the Shimpō Kogyo Award at the Shinbi Kogei-kai Exhibition
- Works in Collection: Kyoto Ceramic Center (special exhibition - selected ceramic artists), etc. Production Year: Circa 2010 (estimated)
- Product Condition: Very Good (no chips, no cracks)
- Accessories: Dedicated tomobako (wooden box) included
- Material: Pottery (Yakishime with natural ash glaze)
- Dimensions: Height approx. 7.5 cm, Width approx. 7.0 cm
- Note: Although the products we offer may be new and unused, they are from a very old production period and are all listed as used items. Products may have damage due to age, so please consider purchasing after understanding and checking.
