Bizen sake cup

This is a Bizen sake cup by Living National Treasure Yu Fujiwara, who broadened his horizons not only within Japan but across the globe to share the appeal of Bizen ware. The dynamic, expansive form, characteristic of Fujiwara, perfectly embodies his motto of "simple, clear, and bold." The firing is also simple, featuring a straightforward composition of yellow sesame (kigoma) glaze and shiso-red, the quintessential colors of Bizen ware. The rich, viscous shiso-red is sure to make the sake look exquisite within the cup. Original signed box (two-sided crosspiece)
Diameter 7.7cm × Diameter 7.5cm × Height 6.3cm Yu Fujiwara (1932–2001, born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture) was the eldest son of Living National Treasure Kei Fujiwara. In his pottery, he followed the motto of "simple, clear, and bold," and was known as "Yu of the Jars" for his many works involving jars and bowls. Influenced by Rosanjin Kitaoji, he was also skilled at tableware. Starting in 1972, he held a series of exhibitions, including the "100 Jars," "Tokkuri (Sake Flask)," "100 Flowers," and "100 Bowls" exhibitions. He also created numerous large-scale reliefs and objects. He received the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 1967 and was designated a holder of an important intangible cultural property by the prefecture in 1980. In 1996, he became the first person in the pottery world to be designated a holder of a nationally designated important intangible cultural property (Living National Treasure), following in his father's footsteps.
Major awards include: Kaneshige Toyo Award, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award/Cultural Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Chugoku Cultural Award, Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts, Academia Arts and Culture Grand Prize, and the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon.