A spectacular bowl with torn edges covered in thick green and crackled pale glaze by one of Japan’s most renowned potters Kawakita Handeishi enclosed in a wooden box titled Shiro Gake Hachi signed by the great collector Fujita Tofu.The bowl is 16 cm (6-1/4 inches) diameter, 7 cm (3 inches) tall and in perfect condition.The deep connection Between Handeishi and Fujita Tofu was explored in the Sekisui Hakubutsukan Museum exhibition in 2012.
Kawakita Handeishi (1878-1963) was born in Osaka and was appointed director of the Hyakugo Bank at the young age of 25. In his early 30s he expanded his influence into the political world becoming a member of the Mie Prefectural Assembly in 1910, and shortly thereafter began studying pottery.He became the bank president in 1919, and in the 1920s established his own pottery studio.He had a Profound impact on the 20th century Tea aesthetic as well as the revival of traditional pottery traditions through his influence on younger researchers such as Kaneshige Toyo, Arakawa Toyozo and Miwa Kyuwa.Work by him is held in the Brooklyn Museum, National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, Mie Prefectural Art Museum, Miho Museum, Gifu Prefectural Museum of Modern Ceramic Art and Sekisui Museum among many others.
