Bizen ware sake cup

This is a Bizen sake cup by Rokuro Nakamura, a master traditional craftsman of whom Bizen is proud and who was hailed as the god of sake vessel making. It is a work that clearly exhibits the characteristics of his later years, possessing a magnificent, sensual undulating form typical of a master who spent decades crafting sake vessels. The quality of the clay is also superb; its lustrous, light-brown texture with a faint hint of purple reveals at a glance that it was crafted using top-grade rice paddy clay. With the distinct yet bold and passionate appeal of both its clay quality and form, it will surely be a piece to enjoy for many years to come. Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
Diameter 7.3cm x Diameter 7.3cm x Height 5.5cm Rokuro Nakamura worked for a company until the end of the war, but in 1945 he began training under Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige. In 1961, he established the Rokuro Kiln and became an independent artist. He preferred to create sake vessels like tokkuri (sake bottles) on the potter's wheel, while also working on hōbin (teapots), kyūsu (teapots), and tea bowls using the tatara slab-building technique. His style was simple and wild, and as his work was unglazed, he placed great importance on the firing process, dedicating significant effort to the kiln loading that determined the quality of his pieces. He was recognized as a traditional craftsman in 1986, the same year he received the Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Prize, and in 1989 he was awarded the Order of the Blue Paulownia Leaves in the spring decorations. He passed away in April 2004.