A swirling design in purple enamel and gold wire rises up toward the rim of this square lidded vessel made as a water container for use in the Maccha Tea Ceremony by Shibata Akira enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Yusen Shippo Chushomon Mizusashi created in 2012 for the 59th Nihon Dento Kogeiten National Traditional Crafts Exhibition and is featured figure 590 page 164 in the catalog for that year. It is 14 cm (5-1/2 inches) square, 21 cm (8-1/2 inches) tall and in excellent condition.
Shibata Akira was born in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture in 1942. After graduating from Aichi Prefectural Seto Ceramics High School, he joined Ando Cloisonné Company, which was founded in 1880 and has carried on the modern and traditional cloisonné techniques for over 50 years. His works use the yūsen (wire) technique and involve numerous intricate steps, including design, substrate processing, pattern application, glazing, firing, and polishing—all of which he completes himself. This craft requires experience and a high level of skill, demanding true mastery. Since 1970 (Showa 45), he has been selected consistently for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition where he has been awarded and has also served as a judge. He is recognized as one of Japan’s leading cloisonné enamel artists.
