Bizen Youhen Tokkuri

This is a brand-new Bizen *yohen* (kiln-changed) sake flask (small) fresh from the kiln by Makoto Nakamura, a renowned maker of sake vessels and tableware and the eldest son of the late Bizen pottery master Rokuro Nakamura. This latest work was just removed from the kiln in June. Leveraging the expertise in crafting sake vessels inherited from his father, Rokuro, he has finished this piece in a rustic, flattened shape featuring magnificent kiln-changed effects. The crisp, ash-covered *yohen* surface is carbonized to a deep black, and the area from the base to the waist gives off a faint, dull glow that is truly imposing. Despite such an intense firing, the signature Nakamura family scarlet color remains, with a large *nuke* (fire-marked area) on the front and a small circular one on the waist, both displaying a beautiful scarlet that seems to emanate from the very core of the clay. This work is a one-*go* flask, and the unique method of shaping the body to look as if it is sagging—reminiscent of a fabric pouch—is finished so masterfully that one might mistake it for the work of his father, Rokuro. Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
Rim 3.5cm x Body 10.0cm x Body 9.8cm x Height 7.7cm; Capacity approx. 180cc Born as the eldest son of Rokuro Nakamura, Makoto Nakamura began learning the fundamentals and honing his skills under his father in 1971. To further study the firing techniques of Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige, he spent ten years assisting and receiving guidance from Michiaki Kaneshige during kiln firings. He became independent in 1975. He focuses on tea ceramics and tableware, while also creating flower vases, sake flasks, and sake cups. He holds frequent solo exhibitions in Tokyo, Okayama, Nagoya, and throughout Japan.