Bizen sake cup

This Bizen sake cup is the work of Koichiro Isezaki, who was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and has breathed new life into the world of Bizen ware with his exceptional sense and masterful sculptural ability. You can enjoy the lustrous kiln changes characteristic of an anagama kiln, such as the pure white "kase-goma" (dry ash glaze) that differs from a climbing kiln, and the vibrant red clay texture reminiscent of apple skin. By scraping out the clay and inflating it from within, he has incorporated a powerful, balloon-like tension into the form. The circular "marunuke" mark on the front is superb, and the kiln changes cascade downward rapidly, resembling a cross-section that reveals the mysteries of anagama firing. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 7.9cm x Diameter 7.6cm x Height 6.5cm Koichiro Isezaki was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki. The Isezaki family is a prestigious name in Bizen ware; his grandfather was the Intangible Cultural Property holder Yozan Isezaki, and his uncle was the Intangible Cultural Property holder Mitsuru Isezaki. He aspired to become a ceramic artist from an early age. After graduating from the Tokyo Zokei University Department of Sculpture in 1994, he studied abroad in the United States. He spent approximately two years studying ceramics under Jeff Shapiro, a potter based in New York City, which greatly broadened his perspectives on art and ceramics. After returning to Japan in 2000, he trained under the guidance of his father alongside his father's apprentices. In 2002, he submitted work to the Tanabe Museum of Art's Tea Ceremony Exhibition for the first time and was selected.