Bizen Mugcup

This is a new Bizen ware mug, freshly removed from the kiln by popular young artist Yoshiteru Koriki, a former apprentice of the legendary master Sozan Kaneshige. This latest piece, from an early summer 2019 firing, features a lustrous "goma" (sesame) glaze surface developed through prolonged exposure to the kiln's fire. It has been fired with an abundance of fuel, resulting in a milk-chocolate-colored body with a glossy sheen that gives the texture an exquisite quality, as if the chocolate were melting from heat. The front is generously covered in sesame ash, which serves as a brighter accent color that enhances the character of the piece against the aforementioned backdrop. Furthermore, the rich firing has created a coated, well-sealed finish, making the mug highly pleasant to use. As a mug, it is quite large, similar in size to a beer stein, and would be perfect for the upcoming season if chilled beforehand and filled with beer. No box included
Diameter 11.2cm x 8.5cm x Height 9.8cm Yoshiteru Koriki was born in Ako City, Hyogo Prefecture. Influenced by his father, who was an avid pottery enthusiast, he aspired to pursue ceramics. After graduating from high school in 1989, he began his apprenticeship under the father-and-son duo of Sozan and Yuho Kaneshige to master the craft. Following seven years of training, he established his own climbing kiln in Shizutani, Bizen City in 1996 and successfully produced his first firing the following year. He held his first solo exhibition in Tokyo in 2000 and has held annual solo exhibitions ever since. In 1999, his work was selected for the "Northern Confectionery Vessels I'd Like to Use" exhibition, and in 2002, he was selected for the "Tea Ceremony Ceramics" exhibition for the first time.