Bizen Yohen Sake Cup

This is a new Bizen kiln-altered sake cup, freshly removed from the kiln in February by Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki, an artist who continues to lead the Bizen pottery world with an inexhaustible creative spirit. Unlike the typical scenery of his anagama kilns, this piece features the red clay body as its protagonist. The sesame ash glaze is applied sparingly rather than forming a thick, glassy layer, resulting in a dry texture that beautifully accentuates the red earth. The interior features a massive stone inclusion that looks as if a meteorite has fallen, creating a piece of scenery that can be enjoyed without any risk of leakage. (*Please note in advance that there is a slight wobble.) Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
Diameter 6.6cm x Diameter 6.4cm x Height 7.0cm Jun Isezaki was born as the second son of Yozan Isezaki, an artist skilled in sculptural pottery. He studied ceramics from a young age and embarked on his career after graduating from the Special Art Course at Okayama University in 1959. His work covers a wide range, from traditional items such as vases, plates, and tea ceremony wares to sculptural objects and ceramic wall art. In his creative process, he emphasizes both the forming and firing stages, utilizing the characteristics of various materials and kilns (anagama, climbing kilns, and electric kilns) to develop a style infused with a contemporary sensibility. He is also recognized as a leading relief artist, having unveiled numerous works. He became a full member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1966 and served as a special lecturer in fine arts at Okayama University for nine years starting in 1978. In 1998, he and his older brother, Mitsuru, were both designated as holders of Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Cultural Properties, and in the same year, he became the Secretary General of the Chugoku Branch of the Japan Kōgei Association. In July 2004, he was designated as a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property by the Japanese government.
Awards: Numerous awards including the Toyo Kaneshige Memorial Award, the Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award, the Sanyo Shimbun Award, and the Excellence Award at the Tea Ceremony Modeling Exhibition / Served as a judge for the Prefectural Exhibition