Bizen Black Sake Cup

This is a Bizen black sake cup by Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki, who continues to lead the world of Bizen ware with an inexhaustible creative power. This piece was fired while laid on its side; it was covered in a large amount of pine wood ash from the back, and the sesame glaze that collected in the interior merged with the ash to form "tamadare" (bead drips) on the front. Generating this much tamadare requires a significant amount of heat, which in turn has resulted in a spectacular landscape of colors beyond just the drips themselves. The bluish scorched sesame glaze on the rim, in particular, becomes even more vivid when wetted during use, delighting the eye. The luster of the black surface is also truly beautiful, possessing a charm that draws one in to gaze at it again and again. Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
6.9cm diameter × 6.9cm diameter × 6.8cm height Jun Isezaki was born the second son of Yozan Isezaki, an artisan skilled in crafted ceramic objects. He learned pottery from a young age and entered the field professionally after graduating from the Special Art Course at Okayama University in 1959. His body of work is broad, ranging from traditional items such as flower vases, plates, and tea ceramics to sculptural pieces, ceramic walls, and art objects. In his creative process, he places great importance on both shaping and firing. He is known for a style overflowing with a contemporary sensibility that draws out the unique characteristics of his materials and kilns (anagama, climbing kilns, and electric kilns). He is also recognized as a leading relief artist, having unveiled numerous works. He became a regular member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1966. From 1978, he served as a special art lecturer at Okayama University for nine years. In 1998, he and his older brother, Mitsuru, were both designated as Holders of Important Intangible Cultural Property of Okayama Prefecture; that same year, he became the Secretary General of the Chugoku Branch of the Japan Kōgei Association. In July 2004, he was designated as a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure). Awards: Received numerous honors including the Kaneshige Toyo Prize, the Okayama Prefectural Cultural Encouragement Award, the Sanyo Shimbun Prize, and the Excellence Award at the Exhibition of Tea Ceremony Modeling, among others / Served as a judge for the prefectural exhibition.