Kuroshuten

This is a new hand-formed black sake cup by Koichiro Isezaki, who was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and who is breathing new life into the world of Bizen ware with his exceptional sense and masterful modeling skills. This sake cup is a new challenge from this firing, created using a hand-forming technique where slabs of clay are slowly raised by hand. The gentle curves from the hand-forming and the finger marks remaining on the clay surface create a presence that is both soft and dignified, much like Raku ware. The piece focuses on a black surface with a slightly metallic tone, with little to no sesame glaze applied. The matte texture will shine beautifully when wet with sake, and together with the subtle surface irregularities from the hand-forming, it will surely delight its owner. (*Please note in advance that there is a slight wobble.) Signed wooden box to be provided at a later date (please note that it will take some time to ship) Diameter 7.2cm x Diameter 7.1cm x Height 6.2cm Koichiro Isezaki was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki. The Isezaki family is a prestigious family of Bizen ware, with his grandfather being the Intangible Cultural Property holder Yozan Isezaki and his uncle being the Intangible Cultural Property holder Mitsuru Isezaki; Koichiro himself aspired to become a ceramic artist from an early age. After graduating from the Sculpture Department of Tokyo Zokei University in 1994, he studied abroad in the United States. He studied ceramics for about two years under Jeff Shapiro, a ceramic artist living in New York City, which greatly broadened his perspective on art and ceramics. After returning to Japan in 2000, he worked hard on his training under the guidance of his father's disciples. In 2002, he exhibited for the first time at the Tanabe Museum of Art Tea Ceremony Exhibition and was selected.