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In the 1969 five-book series 'Contemporary Ceramics' (Gendai Togei Zukan, Kogei Publishing) by Kuroda Ryoji (the founder of Kuroda Toen in 1935) he writes that Saito Enju(1910-deceased) was one of the three 'elder masters' of Banko and was a master of many styles. The famous Kyoto Zen monk Tachibana Taiki was also a huge fan and the two had many 'tea parties' and Tachibana often signed Enju's boxes. I had no idea about all this when I saw this Takatori tokkuri, all I knew that it was just so good, traditional and had an elegance about it. The form-balance is perfect and the glazing is very shibui and varied. It's 17.5cm.tall and 9.3 at waist, stamped on base,
perfect condition with a signed box. I spoke with one of Enju's apprentices who couldn't recall exactly, yet said Enju passed away about thirty years ago. The age on the box points to around fifty years ago for this rare work.
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