Ibe Tokkuri

This is an Imbe sake bottle by Mitsuru Isezaki, a leading figure in Imbe pottery. It features a classic, highly functional form characteristic of Isezaki-sensei, adorned with a magnificent kiln-transmuted glaze.
The intense ash coating, reminiscent of rugged rock, provides a pleasantly tactile sensation in the palm of your hand. The subtle reddish "nuke" (unfired or unglazed area) blends with the ash covering to create a wonderful accent, making this a piece to be enjoyed for a lifetime, both in use and as an object of beauty.
*Please note that the piece has a slight wobble and minor kiln adhesion marks.

Includes signed wooden box (with two-sided slats)
Rim diameter 3.9cm x body diameter 9.0cm x body diameter 8.8cm x height 12.2cm, capacity 380cc

Born in 1934 as the eldest son of Intangible Cultural Property holder Yozan Isezaki, Mitsuru Isezaki learned pottery techniques from his father from an early age and studied sculpture in the Special Art Course at Okayama University. As an authentic practitioner of tea ceramics, he pursued Momoyama-style forms, natural clay textures, and traditional firing methods. He distinguished between using climbing kilns and medieval-style anagama kilns depending on the work, insisting on firing with split pine wood rather than electric or gas kilns. He became a regular member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1964 and received the Kaneshige Tōyō Prize in 1974. He received the Sanyo Shimbun Cultural Merit Award in 1994 and the 15th Tanabe Museum of Art Grand Prize in 1998. In March of that same year, he was designated as a Prefectural Important Intangible Cultural Property holder.
Awards: Kaneshige Tōyō Prize, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Art and Culture Merit Award, Grand Prize at the Tea Ceremony Sculpture Exhibition, and many others / Invited artist to the Prefectural Exhibition This is an Imbe sake bottle by Mitsuru Isezaki, a leading figure in Imbe pottery. It features a classic, highly functional form characteristic of Isezaki-sensei, adorned with a magnificent kiln-transmuted glaze.
The intense ash coating, reminiscent of rugged rock, provides a pleasantly tactile sensation in the palm of your hand. The subtle reddish "nuke" (unfired or unglazed area) blends with the ash covering to create a wonderful accent, making this a piece to be enjoyed for a lifetime, both in use and as an object of beauty.
*Please note that the piece has a slight wobble and minor kiln adhesion marks. Includes signed wooden box (with two-sided slats)
Rim diameter 3.9cm x body diameter 9.0cm x body diameter 8.8cm x height 12.2cm, capacity 380cc Born in 1934 as the eldest son of Intangible Cultural Property holder Yozan Isezaki, Mitsuru Isezaki learned pottery techniques from his father from an early age and studied sculpture in the Special Art Course at Okayama University. As an authentic practitioner of tea ceramics, he pursued Momoyama-style forms, natural clay textures, and traditional firing methods. He distinguished between using climbing kilns and medieval-style anagama kilns depending on the work, insisting on firing with split pine wood rather than electric or gas kilns. He became a regular member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1964 and received the Kaneshige Tōyō Prize in 1974. He received the Sanyo Shimbun Cultural Merit Award in 1994 and the 15th Tanabe Museum of Art Grand Prize in 1998. In March of that same year, he was designated as a Prefectural Important Intangible Cultural Property holder. He passed away in August 2011 at the age of 77.
Awards: Kaneshige Tōyō Prize, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Art and Culture Merit Award, Grand Prize at the Tea Ceremony Sculpture Exhibition, and many others / Invited artist to the Prefectural Exhibition