Bizen Sake Cup

This is a Bizen sake cup crafted by the late Rokuro Nakamura, a traditional craftsman whom Bizen takes pride in, and who was hailed as the god of sake vessel making. Unlike his work from later years, this piece features a hard, kiln-fired body coated in a rich yellow sesame glaze. The shiso-colored clay, characteristic of Bizen ware, displays a vibrant hue reminiscent of fresh shiso leaves, true to its name. The body is accented with wheel marks that deepen the texture, enhancing the sense of oneness between the piece and the hand that holds it. (*Please note that there is a chip on the base and some signs of use.) Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
Diameter 7.0cm × Diameter 6.8cm × Height 5.9cm Rokuro Nakamura worked as a company employee until the end of the war, after which he apprenticed under Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige in 1945 to refine his skills, later establishing his own Rokuro Kiln in 1961. He favored crafting sake vessels such as tokkuri on the wheel, while also working with slabs to create ho-bin (teapots), kyusu, and tea bowls. His style was rustic and overflowing with a wild character; as an artist of unglazed stoneware, he placed great importance on the firing process and devoted significant effort to the kiln loading, which determined the quality of the work. He was designated 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.