A powerful Shiro-Hagi fresh-water jar for the Japanese Maccha Tea Ceremony covered in crawling white glaze by Living National Treasure Miwa Kyusetsu XI, enclosed in its original signed wooden box and protected by a black lacquered outer box (Niju bako). The heavily worked vessel is covered in Kyusetsu's characteristically thick white Hagi glaze, which crawls and separates dramatically across the surface to expose the warm reddish clay beneath. Around the upper body, irregular patches of glaze create an almost mosaic-like pattern, while the lower section retains traces of vigorous forming and a broad area of exposed clay at the foot. Particularly engaging are the two small sculpted animal-mask handles projecting from opposite sides, their darker iron-rich details emerging unexpectedly from the surrounding white glaze. A deeply rounded rim encloses the inset ceramic lid, itself animated by areas where the glaze has drawn back during firing. Robust and deliberately irregular, the Mizusashi transforms the traditional softness of Hagi into something strongly sculptural, balancing the creamy white glaze against the earthy body beneath. It measures 21.5 x 20.5 x 15.5 cm (8-1/2 x 8 x 6 inches) and is in excellent condition.
Miwa Kyusetsu XI (1910-2012) was born the third son of the ninth generation Miwa Kyusetsu (Setsudo) and studied under his father and older brother (Kyusetsu X: Kyuwa). He also studied under Kawakita Handeishi. He was first exhibited in 1955, and garnered his first accolades at the 4th National Traditional Craft Exhibition (Nihon Dento Kogei Ten) in 1957. Following the retirement of the 10th generation Kyusetsu, he succeeded the name in 1967. He received the Imperial Order with Purple Ribbon in 1976 and the Order of the Sacred Treasure in 1982. He was acknowledged as a Yamaguchi Prefectural Preserver of Intangible Cultural Properties in 1972 and Designated Living National Treasure in 1983. He officially retired, passing on the family name and mantle to Miwa Ryusaku, but continued making pottery under the name “Jusetsu”.
