Bizen Hidasuki Beer Mug

This is a Bizen *hidasuki* (fire-cord) beer mug by Tadashi Yoshimoto, a devoted pupil of Living National Treasure Kei Fujiwara, who carries on his master's philosophy and style. The grand and imposing form is characteristic of Yoshimoto-sensei’s bold approach, offering a sense of delight that can only be felt when holding it. The vitreous surface is created by the interaction between rice straw and Bizen clay, while the beautiful scarlet of the *hidasuki* is produced by aluminum oxide dissolving and oxidizing during the firing process. The *hidasuki* coloration is excellent, standing out vibrantly against the fresh, clean white of what must be high-quality paddy clay. Signed wooden box (*tomobako* with four-way interlocking lid)
Diameter 12.9cm × Diameter 9.9cm × Height 13.3cm Tadashi Yoshimoto became a live-in apprentice to Living National Treasure Kei Fujiwara in 1964, studying under him for 19 years until his master's passing. In 1975, he built his own kiln in Shizutani, Bizen City, and became independent. His debut kiln firing resulted in selections for the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition, and the Eastern Chugoku Branch Exhibition, and he became a full member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1986. He boasts a distinguished career, having been selected for and winning awards at the Okayama Prefectural Exhibition, Eastern Chugoku Branch Exhibition, Toshinkai Exhibition, Chunichi International Ceramic Art Exhibition, Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, Ceramic Art Biennale, and the Yakishime Ceramics Competition. He has also been active in holding solo exhibitions since 1977 at various department stores in Okayama, Fukuyama, Mihara, Hiroshima, Tottori, Yonago, Kumamoto, Himeji, Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, Tokyo, and elsewhere, all of which were met with great acclaim. In 1988, he was honored with the Kaneshige Toyo Award. In 2007, he was designated as a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property by Okayama Prefecture.