Item Description 黒田儀男 Kuroda Yoshio — Bizen-yaki Double-Gourd Vase with Hidasuki Fire-Cord Markings, with Tomobako and Artist's Biography Card This exceptional vessel is a work by 黒田儀男 Kuroda Yoshio, an award-winning ceramicist working in the revered Bizen-yaki (備前焼) tradition of Okayama Prefecture — one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns and a National Important Intangible Cultural Property. The form is a hisago (瓢箪, double-gourd), a shape with deep roots in Japanese art and literature as an auspicious symbol of good fortune and longevity. What immediately distinguishes this piece is its audacious silhouette: two perfectly spherical, voluminous forms are connected by a dramatically compressed waist, creating a dynamic tension between mass and restraint that speaks directly to the maker's technical mastery. Throwing and forming such an extreme constriction in high-fired stoneware without collapse requires exceptional skill and confidence at the wheel. The surface displays the celebrated hidasuki (緋襷) effect — one of the most prized natural phenomena in Bizen firing. During the long anagama kiln firing, rice-straw cord (wara) is wrapped around the unfired vessel; as the kiln reaches temperatures above 1,200°C over many days without glaze, the straw burns away and the alkaline salts in the ash interact with the iron-rich Bizen clay, producing the characteristic flame-red and amber streaks that flow across the natural grey-beige clay body. No two pieces are ever alike. The base bears the artist's incised personal seal. The piece comes with its original tomobako (共箱, artist's wooden storage box) inscribed Bizen Tokkuri Yoshio (備前 徳利 儀男) with the artist's brushwritten signature and red seal, and an artist's biography card (陶歴書) bearing the artist's ceramic seal stamp and a detailed exhibition record. Size Height: 15.3 cm Maximum diameter: 9.8 cm Weight: 400 g Condition Unused and in excellent condition. The vessel has never been used and retains its original appearance. There are no chips, cracks, or damage. Minor natural kiln marks (pinholing, slight colour variation) are inherent characteristics of authentic anagama Bizen firing and are not considered defects. The tomobako is in good condition. The artist's biography card is present and intact. Artist Profile 黒田儀男 Kuroda Yoshio trained at the Sanroku-gama (山麓窯) kiln in Bizen from 1981 under a master ceramicist. He went on to achieve a remarkable exhibition record across Japan's most prestigious ceramic competitions: selected for the Okayama Prefecture Exhibition (3 times from 1982), the Japan Craft Association Chugoku Branch Exhibition (3 times from 1983), the 14th Chunichi International Ceramic Art Exhibition (1986), the 31st Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition and the 3rd Ceramic Art Biennale (both 1993), the 13th Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition and the 2nd Asahi Fired Ceramic Exhibition (both 1994), and — most notably — the 42nd Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition (日本伝統工芸展, 1995), one of the most respected juried exhibitions in Japan. He operates his own studio kiln in Asakucho, Asakugun, Okayama Prefecture. NOITICE: The photos may show flowers, plants, pedestals, etc. as examples of decorations and interior design for illustrative purposes, but please note that these are not included in the product. The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by DHL , FedEx or Japan Post depend on the situation. It takes about 10 Days 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 Customs 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 us and it cost more double shipping fee for reshipping. We do appreciate for your kind cooperation.