Ultra thick white glaze seems to exude in thick marshmallow puffs from the flame red surface of this huge Tea bowl set high on a cross-cut base by Hayashi Shotaro enclosed in the original signed Ni-ju-bako (Double) wooden box titled Aka-Shino Chawan. The outer box is lacquered in a rich translucent red.The bowl is 15 cm (6 inches) diameter, 11 cm (4-1/4 inches) tall and in perfect condition, a museum quality work showing the best of this artist.
Hayashi Shotaro (b. 1947) is one of the biggest names in contemporary Mino ceramics. Although initially entering regular employment upon graduating high school, in 1967 he returned to Toki city to help his brother Kotaro. Very quickly within him was born the urge to create. He won the highest award at the Gifu Prefectural Art Exhibition in 1968, and from there his talent blossomed. He established his own kiln in 1974. Since then his list of exhibitions and awards has been amazing, including the Nihon Dento Kogei Ten (National Traditional Arts and Crafts Exhibition), Governors Prize and five times winner of Best of Show at the Asahi Togei Ten (Asahi Ceramics Exhibition), and Best of Show at Gifu Prefectural Exhibition. At the Mino Ceramics Exhibition, in addition to the highest award, the Mino Ceramics Award, he has received all three major awards, including the Shoroku Award and the Kobei Award.
