An Edo period Ao-Bizen (Blue Bizen) koro in the shape of a sleeping cat wrapped in a Sarasa-cloth pouch in an old wooden collector-s box titled Ao-Ko-Bizen Yaki Nemuri Neko (Old Blue-Bizen Sleeping Cat) annotated during the Taisho period (indicating it was already old by then). It is 17.5 x 10 x 7.5 cm (7 x 4 x 3 inches). There is a hairline crack in the back extending from the heart shaped opening.
Bizen pottery, one of Japan’s oldest ceramic traditions, originates from Bizen Province (modern-day Okayama Prefecture) and dates back over 1,000 years. Renowned for its unglazed, earthy textures and natural ash glazes, it emerged during the Heian period (794–1185) and flourished in the Momoyama period (1573–1600). Saikumono, small, intricate sculptural pieces, became a hallmark, showcasing artisans' creativity. Recently, Blue Bizen (Ao-Bizen) developed featuring blue-hued finishes achieved by varying clays and atmospheric conditions during firing.
