Japanese Glazed Stoneware Bowl by Kitaoji Rosanjin Ex-Musuem

A stoneware round bowl with dramatic glaze made by Kitaoji Rosanjin (1883-1959) circa first half of the 20th century. The low height bowl with wide opening and swell body resembles a monk's alms bowl and it was most likely used as a waste-water Bowl (known as Kensui) for Chado tea ceremony. The simple monastic form contrast with the dramatic glaze the artist applied on the surface. Abstract splashes of iron glaze morphed into various shades of beige, amber, copper and dark brown and all mottled together that covers the entire interior and exterior surface. The slightly irregular hand-built form also accentuates its Zen appeal.
The bowl was marked with the artist's insignia on the base as shown. It also retains a small paper label of the catalog number. It comes with a square brocade cloth.
Provenance: Ex-collection of Yale University Art Gallery. It comes with a digital copy of the museum card of its provenance and history.
Kitaoji Rosanjin (1883-1959) was the pseudonym for a noted artist and epicure during the early to mid-Showa period of Japan. His real name was Kitaoji Fusajiro. An artistic man with many talents, he has an extraordinary influence on Japanese art scene. For his complete biography, refer to source such as e-yakinomo and Rosanjin Net. According to the 2018 exhibition catalog of Kuroda Ceramics Co., Ltd on Kitaoji Rosanjin, in 1921, Rosanjin founded a restaurant for members only called “Bishoku Club (Gourmet's Club)” on the second floor of his gallery, where he began serving Kyoto-style food on his collection of ceramics, such as old Sometsuke, Aka-e, the Oranda, Old Seto, Karatsu, and Oribe. He started making his own ceramic after his collection was destroyed in the earthquake in 1923.