Bizen Black Sake Cup

This is a Bizen black sake cup by Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki, who continues to lead the Bizen ware world with an inexhaustible creativity. This piece features an impressive contrast between the black created by the slip and the yellow sesame glaze. Its gentle form further emphasizes the chic flavor of the black. The scenery, rich with sesame glaze pooling in the interior and varied textures around the foot and sides, is truly spectacular. Original signed box (shiho-san)
Diameter 6.8cm × Diameter 6.7cm × Height 6.5cm Jun Isezaki was born as the second son of Yozan Isezaki, a master of sculpted ceramics. He learned pottery from a young age and embarked on his career after graduating from the Special Art Course at Okayama University in 1959. His body of work is vast, ranging from traditional vases, plates, and tea ceramics to ceramic wall pieces and objects. He places great importance on both the forming and firing processes. His style, overflowing with a contemporary sensibility, makes full use of the 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 in that field. He became a full member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1966. From 1978, he served as a lecturer in the Special Art Course at Okayama University for nine years. In 1998, he and his brother, Mitsuru Isezaki, were both designated as Holders of Important Intangible Cultural Property of Okayama Prefecture, and in the same year, he became the Secretary General of the Chugoku branch of the Japan Kōgei Association. In July 2004, he was designated as a Living National Treasure (Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property). Awards include the Kaneshige Toyo Award, the Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award, the Sanyo Shimbun Award, and the Excellence Award at the Exhibition of Tea Ceremony Ceramics, among many others. He has also served as a judge for the Prefectural Exhibition.