Bizen Sake Cup

This is a Bizen sake cup by Kōsei Kibata, who made his long-awaited debut after nine years of diligent training as an apprentice to Jun Isezaki. Among the various series that Kibata-sensei plans to develop, this piece truly embodies the essence of the Isezaki school. Notably, it was fired in a climbing kiln in an *anagama* (cave kiln) style, resulting in a striking, slightly metallic, pink-pearl-like clay body. The interior features a lustrous, glossy texture complemented by a thick, well-melted *goma* (ash glaze), creating a mysterious appearance unlike any other *anagama*-style work I have seen before. Signed wooden box (double-crosspiece)
Diameter 7.4cm × Diameter 7.2cm × Height 5.7cm Kōsei Kibata was born in Imbe, Bizen City in 1974. He began his apprenticeship under Bizen ceramic artist Jun Isezaki in 2002. In 2012, he built his own kiln and established his independence in Shimizu, Wake Town. That same year, he received the Tabe Museum Grand Prize and the Encouragement Award at the Exhibition of Tea Ceramics.