Bizen sake bottle

This is a Bizen sake flask by Rokuro Nakamura, a master craftsman of Bizen ware and a renowned legend in the art of making sake vessels. This early piece features his signature "henko" (flattened) style, which differs from his later works in its taller, more oval shape and significant weight. The piece is well-fired with a primary "goma" (sesame) glaze, conveying the sturdy, unadorned strength characteristic of Bizen ware. It is a valuable piece that allows one to trace the footsteps of a master craftsman. Original signed wooden box (nifusazan)
Rim 4.3cm x Body diameter 11.3cm x Body diameter 10.2cm x Height 11.0cm Capacity: approx. 320cc Rokuro Nakamura worked for a company until the end of the war, then apprenticed under Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige in 1945 to hone his skills, eventually establishing his own kiln, Rokuro-gama, in 1961. He preferred using the potter's wheel to create sake vessels like these flasks, but also crafted "tatara" (slab-built) pieces such as teapots, kyusu, and tea bowls. His style was simple and wild; as he worked with unglazed stoneware, he placed great importance on the firing process and devoted considerable effort to loading the kiln, which he believed determined the quality of his work. He was named 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 in the spring of 1989. He passed away in April 2004.