Cobalt Blue Bowl with Medallion Design (Gosu marumon hachi)

Kawai Kanjirō was one of the founders of the Japan Folk Art Museum in 1936. As he collected wares for the museum on a regular basis, he began to incorporate folk-art ceramic techniques from all over Asia into his own work. Kawai’s practice changed direction several times, resulting in the most comprehensive range of styles of any modern potter in Japan. This bowl with a raised design and cobaltblue glaze reflects one of his better known styles.