c. 1950

Teabowl with Design of Bamboo

Japanese, 1894 - 1978

Hamada Shoji established an international reputation through his collaborations with the English potter Bernard Leach (1887-1979). A cofounder of the Japan Folk Art Association (Nihon Mingei Kyokai), Hamada considered himself a "folk potter" and did not sign his work, saying, "If you cannot see whom it is by, it is either because the pot is bad or because you are blind." The Japanese government designated Hamada a "Living National Treasure" for his work. The rough texture, tan-gray glaze, and use of a slip design on this bowl all allude to the Korean ceramics that influenced Hamada's style.