Bizen ware sake cup

This is a Bizen sake cup by Rokuro Nakamura, a master craftsman of Bizen ware and renowned as a god of sake vessel making. It is a piece that perfectly captures the characteristics of his final years, featuring a boldly carved foot and a wavy, undulating rim. It exhibits the magnificent scarlet hue that defined the work of this seasoned master, a color that captivated everyone and promises a superb drinking experience. As it is used, its color will deepen, allowing the vessel to reach its ultimate completion in the hands of its owner. Original signed wooden box (shiho-zan)
Diameter 7.5cm × Diameter 7.5cm × Height 5.2cm Rokuro Nakamura worked as a company employee until the end of the war, but in 1945 he began training under Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige. He established his own Rokuro Kiln in 1961. He preferred creating sake vessels like tokkuri (sake bottles) on the potter's wheel, but also worked on bubble pots, teapots, and tea bowls using the slab-building technique. His style was simple and rustic, and as he worked with unglazed pottery, he placed great importance on the firing process, putting significant effort into kiln loading, which determines the quality of the work. He was certified as a Traditional Craftsman in 1986, the same year he received the Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Award, and in 1989 he was awarded the Order of the Blue Paulownia Leaves in the spring decorations. He passed away in April 2004.