Cinnabar incense burner by Shin Fujihira

Width 9cm x Height 7cm

A conversation with Yasushi Fujihira

A small tower filled with poetry

Shin Fujihira's "Cinnabar Incense Burner" is a work that features a poetic design. The incense burner, which resembles a small house or tower, gives the viewer a sense of familiarity and warmth. Its exquisite smallness and palm-sized shape make it appealing to touch, and you can fully feel the sensibility of Shin Fujihira, the poet of ceramic art .

Cinnabar glaze creates depth and mystery

The cinnabar glaze that colors the surface of the incense burner was applied using Fujihira's unique technique. The scarlet color created by this glaze is not just red, but has a deep warmth and a mysterious atmosphere. It shows subtly different expressions depending on the amount of light and the viewing angle, and the subtle color changes give the entire incense burner a mysterious aura . This rich color highlights the uniqueness of the work.

A presence that brightens up any space

This incense burner has the power to completely change the atmosphere of the surroundings just by displaying it in a study or entranceway. Even without burning incense, the moment it is placed there, it brings a kind of tranquility and warmth to the place. Like the urn, the incense burner has an artistic presence that does not require flowers or incense, and it has the power to quietly move the hearts of those who see it.

Shin Fujihira and "Playfulness"

There is a consistent sense of playfulness in Shin Fujihira's work. The Cinnabar Incense Burner is no exception. Its shape strongly reflects his creative style of creating shapes freely without being bound by convention. The natural form, born from the hand-twisting and tatara-style shaping without the use of a potter's wheel, shows a poetic beauty of form that goes beyond the mere mere container of an incense burner.

The background and achievements of ceramic artist Shin Fujihira

Born in Gojozaka, Kyoto in 1922, Shin Fujihira grew up in a family that ran a pottery business. He dropped out of Kyoto Higher Technical School due to tuberculosis, but during his recuperation he devoted himself to painting and reading, honing his artistic sensibilities. At the age of 30, he began his career as a potter in earnest, and established his own unique style through exhibiting at the Nitten Exhibition and participating in the Kyoto Ceramic Artists Club. Although he was influenced by Chinese Ming ware, he infused his work with Japanese lightness, elegance and poetry, and was highly praised as the "poet of pottery."

His works are not limited to vessels, but also include ceramic sculptures with animal and human themes. A consistent feature of his works is his humor and poetic sensibility , which pleasantly surprises the viewer. The "Cinnabar Incense Burner" is a piece that embodies this spirit, and although small, it has an overwhelming presence.

The technology and aesthetics of cinnabar incense burners

Firing cinnabar glaze is extremely difficult, and the delicate conditions of oxidation and reduction in the kiln determine the final result. By making full use of this difficult technique, he has created an incense burner with a deep scarlet color and unique texture. The color and beauty of the form are integrated, making the incense burner itself seem to speak to the viewer's heart. The "Cinnabar Incense Burner" is a particularly poetic and approachable piece among Shin Fujihira's ceramics. Its small house-like shape, the deep scarlet color of the cinnabar glaze, and its presence that brings silence and warmth to the space just by placing it there. All of these things come together in harmony, making this incense burner a symbol of Fujihira's ceramic philosophy. This incense burner, which you will want to display in your entrance or study, is a one-of-a-kind piece that has the power to breathe the breath of art into your everyday life.

Shin Fujihira Biography
1944 Entered Kyoto Higher Technical School but dropped out due to illness
1945 Started pottery at Tohei Ceramic Arts
1957: Won the Hokuto Prize at the 13th Nitten Exhibition
1960 Florence International Ceramic Exhibition, Italy
1963: Received the Kikka Award at the 6th Shin-Nihon Exhibition and the Kyoto Prefecture Cultural Merit Award
1968 New Generation Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition: Ceramic Art Today - From Kyoto
1970 Contemporary Ceramics Europe and Japan Exhibition
1973 Received the Japan Ceramic Society Award
1974 Latin American Travel Exhibition
1976 Traveling exhibition of Japanese ceramic masterpieces in East Germany
1978 Traveling exhibition of Japanese ceramic masterpieces in West Germany
1982 US/Canada Traveling Exhibition
1983 Contemporary Japanese Crafts Exhibition
1985: Perspectives on Contemporary Japanese Art
1990: Winner of the Kyoto Art and Culture Award
1991 Received the Kyoto City Cultural Merit Award

"This is a new, unused piece. It is currently kept at the Fujihira Shin Memorial Museum. If you purchase it, his son, Fujihira Yasushi, will create a box to certify that it is an authentic piece."