Bizen Sake Cup

This is a Bizen sake cup by Rokuro Nakamura, a master traditional craftsman of whom Bizen is proud, and who was hailed as a god of sake ware making. It features a large, bold form characteristic of Nakamura, and exhibits the "nuke" (fire-color variation) so prized in a sake cup. The rim and foot are rhythmically accented with three indentations, achieving a balance of both functionality and design. Please be aware that this piece was acquired from a collector and shows significant signs of use. We can provide further details and photos upon request. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 7.8cm × Diameter 7.7cm × Height 5.2cm Rokuro Nakamura was a company employee until the end of World War II, but in 1945, he began studying under Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige to hone his skills, eventually establishing his own Rokuro Kiln in 1961. He favored using the potter's wheel to create sake vessels like tokkuri (sake bottles). Using the slab-building technique, he also crafted hohin (teapots), kyusu (teapots), and tea bowls. His style was rustic and wild; as he worked with unglazed pottery, he placed great importance on the firing process and devoted considerable effort to kiln loading, which he believed determined the quality of his work. He became a certified traditional craftsman in 1986, the same year he received the Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Prize, and in 1989, he was awarded the Order of the Blue Paulownia Leaves in the spring decorations. He passed away in April 2004.