Kuroshuten

This is a new black sake cup by Koichiro Isezaki, who was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and who breathes new life into the world of Bizen ware with his extraordinary sense and skillful sculpting ability. The clay is built up as if woven by his fingers, and the serene sculptural beauty of the hand-coiled form pairs perfectly with the profound flavor of the black glaze. The front surface has received significant flame exposure, resulting in a smooth, lustrous texture, while the back transitions into a matte black finish, syncing with the way the flames passed toward the rear of the kiln. The sesame-like ash glaze (goma) is simple, allowing the black to take center stage, while a large stone burst on the rim adds a powerful accent to the black surface. Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
Diameter 7.6cm x Diameter 7.2cm x Height 6.1cm Koichiro Isezaki was born the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki. The Isezaki family is a prestigious name in Bizen ware; his grandfather was the holder of Intangible Cultural Property Yozan Isezaki, and his uncle was the holder of Intangible Cultural Property Mitsuru Isezaki. He aspired to become a ceramic artist from an early age. After graduating from the Tokyo Zokei University Department of Sculpture in 1994, he studied abroad in the United States. He trained for approximately two years under Jeff Shapiro, a ceramic artist based in New York City, which greatly broadened his perspective on art and pottery. After returning to Japan in 2000, he worked under the guidance of his father alongside his father's apprentices. In 2002, he submitted work to the Tanabe Art Museum Tea Ceremony Exhibition for the first time and was selected.