高桥乐斋四代 信楽烧 扇形盘，贝壳把手 - 石器 - 高橋楽斎 Takahashi Rakusai (4th Generation)（1925-） - 日本 - 1900–2000

Item Description
高橋楽斎 Takahashi Rakusai (4th Generation)（1925-）
This exceptional Shigaraki-yaki fan-shaped serving dish (ōgi-men sara) is a masterwork by Takahashi Rakusai IV, one of the most celebrated potters in the modern Shigaraki tradition. Formed in the shape of a fully opened folding fan (sensu), the piece displays the bold, unrestrained character that defines the Rakusai lineage. At the base of the fan, a finely modeled scallop shell serves as the handle, adding an elegant seasonal motif evocative of traditional Japanese kaiseki cuisine.
The surface treatment showcases the distinctive dual-glaze composition hallmark of Shigaraki stoneware: the left half is finished in a deep, lustrous iron-brown (beni) glaze, while the right half transitions into a warm, earthy natural ash glaze (shizen-yu), with rich, mottled tones of gold, olive, and pale grey. The two glazes meet in a dramatic diagonal band at the center, creating an organic, painterly effect born entirely of the kiln's atmosphere. The interior ribs of the fan radiate from the shell handle with precise, confident carving, while the exterior and back remain unglazed, revealing the natural terracotta body characteristic of Shigaraki clay.
The piece comes with its original wooden presentation box (tomobako), inscribed and sealed by the artist. A provenance document listing the lineage of the Rakusai kiln from the first through fourth generations is also included.

Size
Height: 4.5 cm
Width: 29.5 cm
Depth: 22 cm

Weight
676 g

Condition
The dish is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or notable damage; minor surface patina consistent with age and prior use is present, adding to the character of the piece.

Artist Profile
高橋楽斎 Takahashi Rakusai (4th Generation)（1925-）
The Takahashi Rakusai lineage is one of the most distinguished in the history of Shigaraki ware, a ceramic tradition stretching back over 1,200 years in Shiga Prefecture, Japan. The fourth-generation Takahashi Rakusai (born 1925 in Shiga Prefecture as Takahashi Mitsuo) trained under his father, the third-generation Rakusai — a Shiga Prefectural Intangible Cultural Asset — and inherited the kiln name in 1976. He is recognized by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry as a Dentō Kōgeishi (Certified Traditional Craftsman), and in 1973 was invited to Los Angeles, where he gave lectures on kiln construction and wheel-throwing techniques at the University of California. In 1991, he received the International Arts and Culture Prize from the Japan Cultural Promotion Society. Together with the Ueda Naohō lineage, the Rakusai kiln is regarded as one of the twin pillars of modern Shigaraki ceramic art.

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