Black Cup

This black sake cup is by Koichiro Isezaki, who was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and who has breathed new life into the world of Bizen ware with his exceptional sense and masterful sculpting ability. The cup features a somewhat thick-walled construction, a weight that perfectly complements its contemporary, oval-based form. One can feel a strong commitment to the flow of the clay, and the two accents on the rim, where the clay has been intentionally gathered to stand up like horns, are magnificent. This is a work that stands at the cutting edge of the living history of Bizen. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 10.5cm x Diameter 9.4cm x Height 4.6cm Koichiro Isezaki was born the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki. The Isezaki family is a prestigious line of Bizen ware potters; his grandfather was the Intangible Cultural Property holder Yozan Isezaki, and his uncle was the Intangible Cultural Property holder Mitsuru Isezaki, so he aspired to be a potter from an early age. After graduating from the sculpture department of Tokyo Zokei University in 1994, he studied abroad in the United States. He spent about two years studying pottery under Jeff Shapiro, a potter living in New York City, which greatly broadened his perspective on art and ceramics. After returning to Japan in 2000, he trained under his father’s guidance alongside his father’s apprentices. In 2002, he submitted work to the Tanabe Art Museum Tea Ceremony Exhibition for the first time, where it was selected.