Kyoto potter Imai Masayuki 今井政之 (b. 1930) Mouse kogo TOMOBAKO Colored Clay

Description

Offered is a mouse kogo by famous Kyoto potter
Imai Masayuki
今井政之
(b. 1930)
.
He used his famous inlaid colored clay technique in producing this piece. Imai Masayuki and late Miyashita Zenji
are considered two masters of the colored clay technique in Japan.
Please read his bio at the bottom.
Title:
Inlaid Zodiac Mouse Incense Container
(
Zōgan kanshi nu kōgo
象嵌干支
子
香
盒
)
Medium: colored and inlaid stoneware
Size: 3.6 x 7
cm
Signature on the bottom of the piece:
Masayuki (
政之
)
Date: Heisei Period, late 1995 for 1996.
Condition: no flaws: no cracks or repairs; minor imperfections from firing.
Comes in an original signed accompanying box (tomobako), with original potter sealed wrapping cloth [red seal
Masayuki (
政之
)] and potter’s biography (last date 1995). Masayuki changed and updated his biography papers often, making pieces with them easy to date.
Tomobako inscription:
Lid- outside:
Inlaid Zodiac Mouse Incense Container
(
Zōgan kanshi nu kōgo
象嵌干支
子
香
盒
); signed:
Masayuki (
政之
)
; red
seal
Masayuki (
政之
)
.
Piece was acquired in Kyoto in 2008.
Animal zodiac pieces are essential in Japanese tea ceremony, for it is auspicious to use corresponding animal utensil either during the New Year festivities, or during that whole year. They can also be used to please guests (their birth animal), or for other symbolism- in case of the mouse wealth. Mouse is often depicted with Daikoku, so in conjunction with Daikoku scroll, etc. Lastly, Japanese often mix mouse and rat, and use terms interchangeably (goat and sheep; ox and cow, etc.).
Potter’s Bio: Any cursory search of the internet will produce much longer bio, not to mention that he is featured in numerous books in English and Japanese.
Imai Masayuki
今井政之
(b. 1930) was born in Osaka, and had studied pottery under
楠部彌弌
Kusube Yaichi (1897-1984) in Kyoto, where he made his home after finishing studies. He is ofthen seen at varuous ceramic and craft exhibits in Japan, including Nitten, where he received Hokuto Award. He won prestigious Japan Ceramic Society award in 1965, as well as grand prize at International Biennale of Contemporary Ceramics. He was awarded Order of Culture in November of 2018, one of the most prestigious awards bestowed by Japanese Government, along the Living National Treasure (Holder of Intangible Cultural Properties) designation.
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