Creative flower vase with handle made by Keishu Sato. Bizen ware is one of the "Six Ancient Kilns of Japan," produced in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture. It is a simple, durable pottery that is fired without glaze, using only the power of clay and fire. Using clay with a high iron content, and firing slowly at high temperatures of over 1200 degrees, unique patterns (kiln changes) such as hidasuki (fire sashes), sangiri (cross-cuts), and sesame (sesame) are created, and the more you use it, the more its flavor improves. Artist: Keishu Sato(1944-1988)(artist name 圭 also signed on the bottom of the vase) Birth and Background: Born in 1944 in Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, into a family of Bizen ware makers. His eldest brother, Moesuke Sato (a Bizen City Intangible Cultural Property Holder), is a Bizen ware artist, and his father, Takashi Sato, is known as a lover of old Bizen pottery. Path to Pottery: Interested in pottery, he decided to pursue a career as a potter in earnest in 1963 and studied Bizen ware. Independence and Success: After training at the Bizen Ceramic Art Center, he built a kiln and went independent. He received numerous awards and selections at exhibitions, including the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Death: Although he passed away in 1988, his works remain highly valued and are still traded as secondhand and antique items. With inscribed tomobako and artist's Profile and Biography Dimensions: 9 x 9 x 24 cm Good condition, there are stains and wear off from using and aging, please also take a look at the listed photos for a reference. Will be well packaged and shipping by Japan Post in fast delivery.