Item Description 加藤麦袋 Kato Bakutai（1861–unknown） This elegant Mizu-sashi (fresh water jar for tea ceremony) was crafted by Kato Bakutai, one of the most distinctive ceramic artists of the Meiji period from Seto. Made in the Ko-Seto (Old Seto) tradition, this water jar carries the artist's signature inscription (zaimei), adding great authenticity and scholarly value. The piece was created at age seventy (koki) — a milestone celebrated in Japanese culture — making it a particularly meaningful and mature work from the artist's later years. The form follows the classic cylindrical Mizu-sashi shape associated with Seto tea ceramics, presenting a dignified, unpretentious aesthetic befitting the spirit of wabi-cha. The glaze shows the characteristic subtle variation of Ko-Seto ware, with natural atmospheric effects from the kiln lending depth and warmth to the surface. The wooden storage box (tomobako), inscribed by Bakutai himself, accompanies the piece, confirming its provenance and enhancing its collectability. A rare opportunity to acquire a signed, dated tea ceremony vessel by one of Seto's most reclusive and celebrated ceramic masters. Size Height: 10 cm Width: 19 cm Depth: 19 cm Weight 1,303 g Condition The piece shows light age-related wear consistent with its antique status, including minor surface scratches and slight patina; no chips or cracks are evident, and the wooden tomobako is present and intact. Artist Profile 加藤麦袋 Kato Bakutai (1861–unknown) was a Meiji-period ceramic artist based in Higashi Kasugai District, Aichi Prefecture, in the Seto region. His real name was Kato Tomogoro. Renowned as one of Seto's foremost authorities on ceramics, he was paradoxically known for his reclusive nature — a man of deep knowledge who chose silence over discourse and was widely regarded as an eccentric. Despite this, he excelled in reproducing and interpreting Ko-Seto (Old Seto) glazeware, including ki-Seto (yellow Seto), Seto-guro (Seto black), and oribe styles, specialising particularly in tea ceremony vessels such as tea bowls and chaire (tea caddies). His workshop produced several outstanding Seto ceramic artists of the next generation, including Mizuno Kobaku. NOITICE : The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by Japan Post, DHL or FedEx depend on the situation. It takes about 3 weeks to receive normally. Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Sometimes Customes or delivery company in your country contact you for Customs clearance via phone or email. Please make sure that you could answer the phone. If you don't, the parcel will return to me and it cost more double shipping fee for reshipping. I appreciate your cooperation.