A mischievous squirrel ravishing a grapevine decorates this beautifully rendered dish by Takegoshi Taizen enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Iro-e Budo ni Risu-zu Kazari-zara (Decorative Platter with Squirrel on Grape Vine).It is 31.5 cm (12-1/2 inches) diameter, 6.5 cm (2-1/2 inches) tall and in e3xcellent condition.
Yoshiyuki Takegoshi, the Third Generation Taizan(1919–1984), was born on December 1, 1919, as the second son of Takegoshi Yasuyuki (the first-generation Taizan). From his elementary school years, he assisted his father in his workshop, growing up immersed in the art of ceramics. Alongside his elder brother Zentaro (the second-generation Taizan), he continued to learn from his father after finishing school. During his apprenticeship, he was drafted into military service but returned to civilian life on May 31, 1946. Afterward, he established himself as an independent ceramic painter. It is said that he and his brother Zentaro, who returned from service a month later, honed their skills in decorating Kutani ware through friendly competition. Both brothers were avid sketchers, always carrying sketchbooks during daily walks and travels. In the post-war cultural revival, Yoshiyuki studied under Kitade Tojiro and participated in various exhibitions, receiving accolades and holding solo exhibitions. He adopted the artist name "Taisen." His artistic style was a masterful blend of the detailed and ornate work of his father, Taizan, and the bold compositional techniques. Yoshiyuki innovatively depicted motifs of wildflowers with a contemporary aesthetic. After the unexpected passing of his brother Zentaro in a traffic accident in late 1964, Yoshiyuki inherited the title of the third-generation Taizan. He excelled in showcasing the vibrant beauty of five-colored (gosai) Kutani ware on the surfaces of his ceramics. His works were renowned for their meticulous and intricate overglaze decoration. In his later years, Yoshiyuki embraced black glaze painting (suibokuga) and developed a fondness for incorporating these techniques into underglaze blue designs.
