FOOD SERVING DISH by MIZUUICHI Kyohei

On a high-standing serving dish, with sand-coloured ground and dark red base, the artist has created a scene of undersea creatures. Three shrimp, ebi, and a squid, ika, in rich red and gold urushi swim against a background of seaweeds and shells in gold and silver. This playful design is an early work by important Kyoto artist Mizuuichi Kyohei, using the signature Heiichiro, which places the work around 1940. The work was selected for publication in volume 36 of Solar Antiques Review, 2001, as part of their presentation of lacquer in everyday life, and comes accompanied by a copy letter from the artist attesting to its authenticity.

Mizuuichi graduated from the Kyoto City School of Arts & Crafts, Department of Lacquer in 1926. His work was selected for exhibition at the 1^st Teiten in 1936. Thereafter he was a regularly awarded exhibitor in the post-war Nitten and other national exhibitions.  From 1946 to 1978 he held teaching posts at his alma mater and the Hiyoshigaoka High School, Department of Lacquer Art, While not coming from a lacquer family background himself, Kyohei is firmly rooted in the Kyoto lineage of lacquercraft, passing on the Kyoto lacquer tradition to the current generation, including lacquer artist Saratani Tomizo. In 1990 the Japanese Government awarded him the honour of the Purple Medal, in recognition of his art, and in 1993 a major retrospective exhibition of his work was held in Himeji. Works by him are in the permanent collection of the Kyoto Museum of Modern Art.