Kimura Sojō 木村素静 (*1945)

A superb museum quality Bizen flower vase by Kimura Sojō. Sojō is one of the few recognized female masters in the male-dominated field of Bizen pottery. Born in Tōkyō, Sojō graduated from Kasei University in 1968 and worked as a kindergarten teacher. After the loss of her parents, she went to Kōbe to heal her grief. Impressed by the teachings of Zen Master Yamada Mumon (1900-1988), she decided to visit him and happened to meet a pottery student of Living National Treasure Isezaki Jun (*1936), who convinced her to visit his teacher. She became a student of Isezaki Jun herself and studied pottery for four years under the guidance of the master and another year at Bizen Tōen. Sojō was selected for the Women’s Association of Ceramic Art and Issuikai Exhibition. She also held solo exhibitions at the Okayama Asuka Gallery, the Keio in Shinjuku, and the Mitsukoshi in Ginza.

This outstanding vase bears extraordinary patterns of highly developed techniques unique to Bizen pottery. Long drops of ash glaze running vertically around the vase show that the object was placed on its side in the kiln during firing. Circular reverse patterns (botamochi) with beautiful and vivid color changes of garnet red, orange, and green are the visible traces of the firing supports and Sojō's mastery of temperature and atmosphere control of the kiln. All of these are typical characteristics of the so-called "pushed-over" pieces (korogashi), which are rare and considered the masterpieces of highly advanced potters.

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