A very unusual bowl in Blue and White by Living National Treasure Shimizu Uichi enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Sometsuke Hachi dating from quite early in his illustrious career. It is an exceedingly rare work in gosu, the likes of which I have not seen before. The bowl is 22 cm (8-3/4 inches) diameter, 7 cm (3 inches) tall and in perfect condition.
Shimizu Uichi (1926-2004) was born in Kyoto the son of a ceramic dealer. Discarding the family business, he apprenticed in plastic arts under future Living National Treasure Ishiguro Munemaro. His work retains some principal elements of his teachers style while incorporating an understated elegance and avant-garde spirit of challenge uncommon for his time. He was first exhibited at the Nitten in 1951, receiving numerous awards there since. He also took the gold medal at the Prague International Exhibition, and was at the Brussels World Exposition. He is in the collection of the Tokyo National Museum, Kyoto Museum of Modern art, Clark Center and the Freer Gallery among many others.
