Bizen sake cup

This is a Bizen sake cup by Kazan Matsuda, an artist who steadily inherited the traditional techniques of Bizen ware as a master of authentic tea ceramics. The cup features soft *hidasuki* (fire-cord) markings created in an electric kiln; these markings are delightful, shifting between deep and vivid tones and light, ethereal shades. The foot, which reveals much about the artist's character, is carved with a serious, meticulous precision that leaves no room for playfulness—a testament to Kazan, who dedicated himself to guiding the next generation. The body of the cup is well-formed; while not heavy, it has a solid, substantial feel, reflecting Kazan's grounded and steadfast style. Signed wooden box (double-crosspiece)
Diameter 6.5cm × Diameter 6.5cm × Height 5.3cm Kazan Matsuda was the second son of the acclaimed master, the third-generation Kazan Matsuda, and learned pottery techniques from his father from a young age. He succeeded to the name of the fourth-generation Kazan in 1955 upon graduating from the ceramics program at Bizen High School. Alongside his work as a potter, he succeeded his mentor, Zenji Uragami, serving as an instructor in the school's ceramics department for seven years starting in 1961. His work focuses mainly on tea ceramics, though he also produced vases, sake vessels, and tableware. Using a semi-underground anagama kiln, he sought the raw earthen quality of ancient Bizen, specializing in wine-colored surfaces and golden *goma* (ash glaze). He won the Asahi Prize at the Modern Japanese Ceramics Exhibition in 1962. From 1963, he was selected consecutively for the Japan Kogei Exhibition and became a regular member of the Japan Kogei Association in 1966. He received the Kaneshige Toyo Award in 1982 and exhibited at the Bizen Ware Paris Exhibition in 1997. In 2002, he was certified as an Okayama Prefecture Intangible Cultural Property. He passed away in 2003.
Awards: Kaneshige Toyo Award, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Award, Asahi Prize at the Modern Japanese Ceramics Exhibition, and many others / Served as a judge for the Prefectural Exhibition