Ibe Houhin

This is an Ibe *hōhin* (teapot) by the master craftsman Mitsuru Isezaki, a man who loved Bizen ware and made immense contributions to Bizen. This *hōhin* was created by Isezaki in his youth, and the accompanying box was crafted by him in his later years. Its clay texture is quite different from his later works, bearing a striking resemblance to that of the master craftsmen of the early Showa period. He carved the characters for "three cranes" (三鶴) to be read as his name, "Mitsuru," a poetic touch characteristic of him. The form showcases his mastery over clay rich in stone particles, and the pomegranate finial and intricate hand-sculpted details are truly remarkable. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 10.0cm × 8.5cm × Height 7.7cm Mitsuru Isezaki was born in 1934 as the eldest son of the Intangible Cultural Property holder Yozan Isezaki. He learned ceramic techniques from his father from a young age and majored in sculpture in the special fine arts course at Okayama University. A proponent of authentic tea ceramics, he pursued Momoyama-style forms, clay textures, and firing techniques. He utilized both *noborigama* (climbing kilns) and medieval-style *anagama* (tunnel kilns) depending on the piece, and insisted on firing with split pine wood, never using electric or gas kilns. He became a full member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1964 and received the Toyo Kaneshige Prize in 1974. In 1994, he received the Sanyo Shimbun Cultural Merit Award, and in 1998, the 15th Tanabe Museum of Art Grand Prize. In March of that same year, he was designated as a Prefectural Important Intangible Cultural Property holder. He passed away in August 2011 at the age of 77.
Awards include: Toyo Kaneshige Prize, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Arts and Culture Merit Award, Grand Prize at the Tea Ceremony Form Exhibition, and many others / Guest exhibitor at the Prefectural Exhibition