This Ki-Seto (yellow Seto) yunomi teacup is the work of Kato Shuntei II (二代 加藤春鼎, 1927–1995; art name Shunrin), head of the Kanae Kiln in Akazu, Seto, Aichi Prefecture, from a family of potters tracing its line to Kato Kagemasa (Toshiro), regarded as the founder of Seto ware. The artist-signed box bears the ink inscription "Ki-Seto Yunomi" with the signature "Shuntei" and a red seal, and a leaflet printed with the artist's career and family tree is included. The family tree in the leaflet lists the line from the founder Kagemasa to the twenty-fourth generation, Kageyoshi (Shunsen Sakusuke), notes that Kanae, the third son of Shunsen, took the name Shuntei on founding a branch family, and shows the succession from the first Shuntei (Kanae) to the present Shuntei (Shunrin).
Kato Shuntei II succeeded to the name Shuntei in 1961. According to the leaflet, the artist was a regular member of the Japan Kogei Association and a secretary of its Tokai branch, served on the executive committee of the Nagoya showing of the Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition, as a juror for the ceramics section of the Aichi Prefectural Exhibition, on the steering committee of the Asahi Ceramics Exhibition and as a ceramics instructor at the Asahi Culture Center, was invited to the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, and exhibited as a representative of Aichi Prefecture at Expo '70. A "Ko-Seto Bowl" was selected for permanent preservation by Seto City, and the artist received the first Aichi Prefecture Art Encouragement Prize. Works are also held by the National Crafts Museum. Solo exhibitions numbered five at Maruei and three at Matsuzakaya in Nagoya, thirteen at Takashimaya in Tokyo and three at Takashimaya in Osaka. Exhibitions by the Kanae Kiln group were held at Meitetsu Department Store, Gifu Takashimaya, the Mitsukoshi Gallery in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, and Matsuzakaya in Ginza, Tokyo, with the endorsement, the leaflet records, of Education Minister Kaifu, Art Academy member Tanikawa Tetsuzo, Aichi Governor Nakaya and the Mayor of Seto.
[In the Artist's Own Words (from the accompanying leaflet)]
Wishing to add something of my own to the traditional skills inherited from my forebears, I have sought clay from peak to peak, turned the wheel, burned every kind of plant to mix into my glazes, and made Seto-guro, Ki-Seto, Ko-Seto, Oribe and more. Above all I have continued to pursue the beauty of Shino's generous white feldspar glaze, its soft and settled luster like light snow, its splendid scarlet, and of hikidashi-guro, baptized by "fire" and "water." I intend to take up the new tradition of Seto all the more from now on, and to live single-mindedly on this path.
Looking closely at the piece, the form is a rather tall cylinder with a single horizontal step around the upper body and gentle undulations left across the whole surface to suit the hand. The glaze is based on a bright ocher Ki-Seto, and toward the lower half streams of deep brown, dark green and bluish gray run down in many lines, forming arches like a chain of mountain ridges. Where the glaze pools it turns to a glossy glass that changes with the light. The upper half keeps a calmer surface with the relief of the clay rising from beneath the glaze, so that turning the piece reveals a contrast of stillness and movement. Throwing rings spiral in the interior, and the glaze gathers thickly at the center of the base. The underside shows yellow-green glaze spread with reddish-brown iron flecks, and part of the foot ring exposes clay turned gray-black in firing. A round potter's seal is impressed beside the foot ring. The artist's words about burning every kind of plant for glaze can be seen here on the vessel itself.
We estimate the production period as the late 1970s to the 1980s, because the leaflet names both Education Minister Kaifu (in office 1976–77 and 1985–86) and Governor Nakaya (in office 1975–83).
Although made as a teacup, this cylinder, about 9.0 cm high with a mouth diameter of about 7.2 cm, is just right for holding a large piece of ice, and we offer it as a "Japanese-style rocks glass (vessel for aged spirits)" for enjoying aged sake, matured spirits and whisky. Amber spirits bring out the Ki-Seto surface and the colors of the flowing glaze all the more.
- Artist: Kato Shuntei II (二代 加藤春鼎, 1927–1995; art name Shunrin)
- Artist's Representative Career Highlights: Studied under Kato Shuntei I. Succeeded to the name Shuntei in 1961 and led the Kanae Kiln. Received the first Aichi Prefecture Art Encouragement Prize and the Aichi Prefecture Education and Culture Merit Award. Served as a regular member of the Japan Kogei Association and secretary of its Tokai branch, a juror for the Aichi Prefectural Exhibition, a steering committee member of the Asahi Ceramics Exhibition and a director of the Seto Ceramic Art Association. Exhibited as a representative of Aichi Prefecture at Expo '70.
- Public Collections: National Crafts Museum (National Museum of Art); "Ko-Seto Bowl" selected for permanent preservation by Seto City, and others
- Production Period: Late 1970s–1980s (estimated from the accompanying leaflet)
- Item Condition: Very good (no chips, no cracks). Please regard the crazing that forms in firing, other characteristics of ceramics and the patina of age as part of the pleasure of an antique piece.
- Accessories: Artist-signed box (ink inscription "Ki-Seto Yunomi," signature "Shuntei" and red seal), leaflet (career and family tree)
- Material: Ceramic / Pottery (Seto ware, Ki-Seto glaze)
- Dimensions: Height approx. 9.0 cm, Mouth diameter approx. 7.2 cm
- Note: The items provided by our shop were produced a very long time ago and are all listed as pre-owned items. Please understand and confirm the age-related changes before considering your purchase.
- Please check the photos: We prepare every description with great care, but errors may still remain in the text. Please examine the photos carefully before purchasing. Where the photos and the description differ, please take the photos as the basis for the product information.
