A pottery bowl reminiscent of Kochin ware engraved with intricate designs on the outside covered in aubergine glaze enclosed in an old quality kiri-wood collectors box titled Mokubei Saku Murasaki Kochi Ume-hana-shiki Hachi (Plum Blossom Shaped Bowl in Purple Kochi Glaze made by Mokubei) signed inside by the collector and dated to either 1873 or 1933 in the 60 year cyclical calendar. The Mokubei stamp is visible clearly between the walls of the foot. It is 11.5 cm (4-1/2 inches) diameter, 6.5 cm (2-1/2 inches) tall and is in excellent condition.
Aoki Mokubei (also known as Kiya Saemon 1767-1833), was born in a tea house in Gion, the pleasure district of Kyoto.Kiya At the age of 29, well known in tea circles, he chose to pursue pottery making and studied under Okuda Eisen. Alongside Ninnami Dōhachi and Eiraku Hozen, he was considered one of the three master craftsmen of Kyoto ceramics in the late Edo period.
