Kuroshuten

This is a newly kiln-fired black sake cup by Koichiro Isezaki, the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki, who brings a fresh breeze to the Bizen ware world with his exceptional sense and masterful modeling skills. The spherical form, reminiscent of a prehistoric marine organism, is beautifully accentuated by an innovative black color. After being shaped into a thick form, the artist personally hollows out the inside of each piece by hand and carves vertical lines into the exterior. Its impactful design makes it a pleasure to display and admire as well. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 8.4cm x Diameter 7.8cm x Height 7.1cm Koichiro Isezaki was born the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki. The Isezaki family is a prestigious name in Bizen ware; his grandfather was the Intangible Cultural Property holder Yozan Isezaki, and his uncle was the Intangible Cultural Property holder Mitsuru Isezaki, and he himself has aspired to be a ceramic artist from an early age. After graduating from the Department of Sculpture at Tokyo Zokei University in 1994, he studied abroad in the United States. He learned ceramics for about two years under Jeff Shapiro, a ceramic artist based in New York City, which greatly broadened his perspective on art and ceramics. After returning to Japan in 2000, he trained under his father alongside his father's apprentices. In 2002, he submitted a work to the Tanabe Museum of Art's Tea Ceremony Exhibition for the first time and was selected.