photo by Masuo Mineaki
Carbonized unglazed flat bowl, named "Heian"
炭化焼締平鉢 銘「平安」
- Birth Year
- 1934
- Death Year
- 2016
- Date
- 1982
- Technique, Material, Format
- ceramic
- Dimension
- height 7.5 cm, diameter 44.5 cm
- Donor name
- Ms. Onodera Atsuko
- Category
- Craft by Japanese Artist
- Inventory Number
- 2019-CJ-001
After learning the basics of ceramics and studying under the then-elderly Kitaoji Rosanjin, Onedora Gen built his own kiln in the town of Oiso, Kanagawa Prefecture, in 1962. While conducting research on clays and old kilns around the country, he encountered traditional Suzu ware on the Noto Peninsula in 1972 and was impressed by the beauty of its jet black color. From that time on, he aimed for shades of gray to black, and began producing work using carbonization firing, whereby the carbon generated from the firewood is absorbed in the object’s surface. This flat bowl is a typical example. Its thickness, sharp outline, and matte black color baked at high temperature without glaze emphasize its stateliness.
(HASEAGWA Tamao)