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Nomura Bunkyo (1854-1911) & Takahashi Yobei IX (Taizan) (1864-1922)
Nihonga/Awatayaki
Haisen - Sake rinsing bowl: Lotus, crab and chrysanthemum
Signed: Bunkyo ga & Taizan seisei
Seals: Taizan
Technique: Awatayaki stoneware, with cream coulored and lavender blue (rim) crackeled glaze. Overglaze decoration of lotus and a crab in black and brown tetsu-e iron oxide pigment and chrysanthemum in blue and black enemals and copper green pigment. Ø 12,5 x 11,5
Box: inscribed
Condition: fine

Haisen, which are generally large porcelain bowls with a stem base, were used in the ritual of sharing sake. Although rinsing bowls had been used since the Edo period, this specialized stem shape was adopted during the Meiji period. In the nineteenth century and into the twentieth, they were considered indispensable at drinking parties, where one important feature was the exchange of sake cups between the host and his guests. The host first asked for the guest’s cup and toasted him. The cup was then returned to the guest who returned the compliment by drinking to his host. During these exchanges, the cup was rinsed in water held in a special cup-washing container placed in the center of the table. Even after World War II haisen were used at swank restaurants where old customs persisted. After the 1960’s they became less common and have nearly disappeared today.

Nomura Bunkyo was born in Kyoto. He studied painting with Umekawa Tôkyo (1828-1869) and later under Shiokawa Bunrin (1801-1877) and Mori Kansai (1814-1894). In 1880 he taught the Kyoto Prefectural School of Painting and moved to Tokyo in 1889. He was a prize winner at the first Bunten and became a juror for several subsequent shows.

Reference:
Roberts p. 122

Taizan Yohei (Awata) was the younger brother of Kiyomizu Rokubei IV. He was adopted by the Taizan family in 1878 and changed his name to Yobei IX. He produced export ceramics mainly in the Kyo Satsuma style, for which he received many awards at home and abroad, His workshop closed at 1894 owing to financial difficulties.
Awata Taizan: Taizan Yobei The Awataguchi (Awata kiln) is one of the eldest kilns active in Kyoto.

Reference:
Roberts p. 168
Jahn p. 314

Price: ON REQUEST