A voluminous ash crusted masterpiece by Harada Shuroku enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Bizen Chatsubo. It is 27.5 cm (11 inches) diameter, roughly the same height, and in excellent condition.
Harada Shuroku (b. 1941) is one of the most respected contemporary Bizen potters, celebrated for works that possess a powerful presence, remarkable weight, and a dignified character often compared to the finest examples of early Bizen ware. Born in Okayama Prefecture, he graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture at Meiji University in 1964 and initially worked in the corporate sector before returning to his hometown, having rediscovered the profound appeal of the Bizen ceramics that had surrounded him since childhood. In 1971 he established a small anagama kiln in Imbe, followed by a noborigama kiln in 1972. A pivotal moment came in 1975 when he met the renowned researcher of old Bizen ware, Katsura Matasaburō, whose guidance led him to investigate ancient kiln sites and deepen his study of Momoyama-period Bizen ceramics. His dedication to reviving the clay textures and spirit of historical Bizen ware became the foundation of his artistic practice. Throughout his career he has exhibited widely in Japan and abroad, including at the Austrian Museum of Ethnology in 1983, built a new anagama kiln at Amidazan in Ushimado in 1991, received the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 2000, and saw his work enter the collection of the Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu in 2002. Known for his tireless research, sincerity, and commitment to the traditions of Bizen, Harada has pursued a distinctive body of work that captures the rich, varied character of the clay while reinterpreting the aesthetic spirit of classical Bizen pottery for the present day.
