Bizen cup

This is a newly fired Bizen cup by Masao Akiya, an artist who trained under Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and creates works brimming with original personality within a fresh spirit. It is a dynamic "free cup" crafted by throwing a thick base on the potter's wheel and then boldly carving away the clay with a spatula. When held in the hand, its thick, energetic form combined with the carved spatula marks makes it resemble the shell of some kind of nut. As a "free cup," it can be used for a variety of purposes, such as for beer, shochu, or as a tea cup. Signed wooden box to follow at a later date (please allow some time for shipment).
Diameter 9.2cm × Diameter 9.1cm × Height 9.4cm Masao Akiya was born in Saitama in 1968. He studied under Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki starting in 1998, and after ten years of training, he built his own kiln in Bizen and became independent in 2008. He held his first kiln opening in 2009. His works have been selected for the Tanabe Museum of Art’s "Tea Ceremony Sculpture Exhibition" and the Japan Kōgei Association’s Chugoku Branch Exhibition, and he has received awards such as the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition Prize and the Encouragement Prize.