Bizen sake pourer

This is a Bizen houbin (teapot) by the late Rokuro Nakamura, a master craftsman of Bizen ware and a legendary figure renowned as a god of sake ware. The wide, shallow spout, characteristic of Nakamura’s style, fits the body perfectly and creates a very sleek impression. While incorporating the "botamochi" firing technique, it has been fired with great precision, resulting in a finish that feels harder than his typical works. This refined, somber finish sharpens the understated aesthetic of the houbin, giving it a rich expression that truly embodies the essence of earthen pottery. As you continue to use it, the varied hues hidden beneath the dark, muted clay will gradually emerge. Signed wooden box (double-slatted lid)
Diameter 10.0cm × Diameter 8.9cm × Height 7.7cm Rokuro Nakamura worked as a company employee until the end of World War II, after which he studied under Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige in 1945 to hone his skills, eventually establishing the Rokuro Kiln and becoming independent in 1961. He preferred to create sake ware such as sake bottles on the potter's wheel, while also crafting houbin, teapots, and tea bowls using the slab-building technique. His style was simple and full of raw, natural character. As a creator of unglazed pottery, he placed great importance on the firing process and dedicated significant effort to the arrangement of pieces in the kiln, which determined the quality of his work. He was certified as a Traditional Craftsman in 1986, the same year he received the Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Award, and was awarded the Order of the Blue Paulownia Leaves (7th Class) in the spring of 1989. He passed away in April 2004.