A large Kiseto rectangular platter by Living National Treasure Katō Kōzō, enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kiseto Chōhōzara. The broad slab-built form rises dramatically toward its four corners, creating a shallow, gently undulating surface covered in a warm yellow-ochre glaze mottled with cream, amber and subtle firing variations. Around the perimeter, vigorous iron-painted lines overlap in loose crosshatched passages, their almost calligraphic spontaneity contrasting with the strong geometry of the vessel. Further iron and copper-green accents appear sparingly across the interior, while the underside is left comparatively raw, revealing the coarse clay body and rich traces of the firing. Both painterly and architectural, the platter reflects Kōzō's deep engagement with Momoyama-period Mino ceramics while retaining the forceful immediacy characteristic of his own work. It measures 36 x 27.5 x 7.8 cm (14-1/8 x 10-7/8 x 3-1/8 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Kato Kozo (1935–2023) was a revered Japanese ceramic artist, designated in 2010 as a Living National Treasure for his mastery of the traditional Setoguro (black Seto) ceramic technique. Born in Mizunami, Gifu Prefecture, he initially aspired to be a painter—achieving the distinction of being the youngest entrant in the Nitten exhibition—but ultimately followed the ceramic path under the mentorship of Kato Kobei and the legendary Arakawa Toyozo. Over decades, Kato developed his own signature style, often referred to as “Kōzō Shino” or “Kōzō kuro” reviving and refining classic Mino‐Momoyama aesthetics such as Shino, Setoguro, and iron-glazed works. He received numerous awards—including top honors at national exhibitions like the Japan Traditional Crafts and Tokai Traditional Crafts Exhibitions—and served in leadership roles with organizations such as the Japan Kōgei Association and Mino Ceramics Association. In addition to his artistic practice, Kato was dedicated to mentorship and preserving ceramic traditions; he founded an atelier called “Fūjuku” to nurture new generations of ceramic artists. Widely exhibited both domestically and abroad, like his mentor Kozo was named a Living National Treasure in 2010, a tribute to a life spent reviving and defending the Mino traditions. Work by him is held in the National Museums of Modern Art, both Tokyo and Kyoto, Museum of Modern Ceramic Art in Gifu, the Mizunami Ceramic Museum as well as the Victoria & Albert Museum among others.
