This is one to write home about.What an amazing work of art by veteran Kutani master Shimiu Suito enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Kutani Kashibachi (Sweets dish).The sheer sides are sculpted in deep flutes, each uniquely decorated with alternating desings in gold on red and blue on white with floral dials.In the center is a remarkable painting of a bird over a voluptuous pink flower.Outside are entirely different designs alternating on each flute.It is signed on the base by the 82 year old man Suito beside a cartouche reading Kutani.It is 21 cm roughly (8 inches) diameter, 9 cm (3-1/2 inches) deep and in perfect condition.
Shimizu Suito was born Shimizu Rikichi in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture in 1910. With a penchant for drawing, he began to study decorating technique at age 13 under Kutani master Ito Taizan and from the age of 20 under Satsuma illustrator Kuroda Kojiro who was also originally from Kanazawa. He also studied Japanese painting (Nihonga) with Miyazaki Suito, from whom he received his art name. until 1945 he lived in Hyogo, and exhibited paintings. Post war he returned to the Kutani region and began in earnest working on Kutani ware. He began garnering prizes for his works from 1965 culminating in the Ishikawa Prefecture Traditional Order of Merit in 1976.
