A very unusual Art-Nouveau influenced set of stacking circular boxes in smokey pink glaze by Kiyomizu Rokubei IV enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Iro-e San-ko-ju Futamono (Color-glazed Three-tiered Lidded Box). It is 9 cm (3-1/2 inches) diameter, 10 cm (4 inches) tall and in perfect condition.
Kiyomizu Rokubei IV (Shimizu Shojiro, 1848-1920) was the eldest son of Rokubei III, an accomplished painter trained under the great Shijo artist Shiokawa Bunrin (1808-1877). He assumed the family title at the age of 35 in the mid Meiji period. He was a strong proponent of pottery in the National Industrial Expositions (Dogyo Hakurankai) and National Expositions (Naikoku Hakurankai) of the 1880s and 90s. He actively promoted traditional pottery in an era of growing mass production, helping Asai Chu to establish the Yutoen Ceramics Association which sought to forward traditional wares and, with Kamisaka Sekka, established the Kami Kai which was a study group devoted to revolutionizing design and developing new or advanced techniques. He worked with the Japanese government to promote Japanese pottery abroad. Following the artistic trends of the era, his work tends to seem more intellectual and less refined, certainly more subtle than his forebears, with a decidedly Japanese flavor. He is particularly remembered for the literati style of his tea ware. He was sickly later in life, and unofficially gave over control of the kiln in 1902. He formally retired in 1913, passing the baton to his second son. He was close friends with Tomioka Tessai, who created and decorated many works in the Rokubei IV studio. One such bowl is held in the collection of the Freer Gallery of Art at the Smithsonian. Other work by Rokubei IV is held in the collection of the Kyoto Hakubutsukan Museum among others.
