A mizusashi (water container for the tea ceremony) painted in iron glaze by Yoshimichi Fujimoto, later designated a Living National Treasure of Japan for iro-e jiki (overglaze enamelled porcelain). Bold horizontal brushstrokes of iron pigment sweep across a warm, cream-toned ground, their rhythm and confidence hinting at the exceptional command of glaze and brush that would come to define Fujimoto's later, world-renowned bird paintings on porcelain. The lid, fitted with a bronze handle, completes a piece of quiet but unmistakable authority. The wooden storage box is inscribed and authenticated by Yoshiyuki Hirose, Fujimoto's direct disciple at the Tokyo University of the Arts graduate school and a recognised authority on his teacher's work — rather than an original box by Fujimoto himself. 【Artist Profile】 Yoshimichi Fujimoto (1919-1992) was one of the towering figures of twentieth-century Japanese ceramics. Born in Tokyo, he graduated from the design department of the Tokyo School of Fine Arts and went on to study under both Kenkichi Tomimoto and Hajime Kato, absorbing the Kutani-derived tradition of overglaze enamelled porcelain. Over a long and restlessly innovative career, Fujimoto developed his signature "yubyo-kasai" technique, using subtly graded, self-mixed pigments to render birds and other motifs with an almost painterly sense of depth and volume, a radical departure from the flat, primary-colour conventions of traditional iro-e. He became a professor at Tokyo University of the Arts in 1970 and served as the university's president from 1985, the first craft artist to hold the position. In 1986 he was designated a Living National Treasure (Holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property) for iro-e jiki. Fujimoto passed away in 1992 at the age of 73. Works by Fujimoto are no longer in production. This is a finite body of work. 【Condition】 Excellent. Minor signs of age commensurate with careful storage. 【Shipping】 Carefully packed and shipped internationally with full tracking for safe delivery. Size: H 17.3 x W 18.4 cm ※Important Information – Please Read Before Bidding※ Customs duties, VAT, and import clearance fees are not included in the shipping cost and are the responsibility of the buyer. These charges vary depending on your country's import regulations and are beyond the seller's control. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. All items are carefully packed and promptly shipped with tracking to ensure safe delivery. Please bid with confidence