Bizen sake bottle

This Bizen sake bottle is an earlier work by Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki, an artist who continues to lead the world of Bizen pottery with an inexhaustible creative power. It was created around 2004, shortly after he was designated a Living National Treasure for Bizen ware. The lustrous surface, which graduates from scarlet to dark brown, has a depth reminiscent of ripened fruit. On the back, one can fully appreciate Jun Isezaki’s *anagama* (tunnel kiln) firing technique, characterized by the fine-grained *goma* (ash glaze) distinctive to this method. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Rim 3.7cm x Body Diameter 9.0cm x Body Diameter 8.8cm x Height 13.3cm, Capacity approx. 350cc Jun Isezaki was born as the second son of Yozan Isezaki, a master of ceramic sculpture. He learned pottery from a young age and pursued it professionally after graduating from the Special Fine Arts Course at Okayama University in 1959. His body of work is vast, spanning everything from traditional vessels, plates, and tea ceremony ceramics to ceramic murals and sculptural objects. In his practice, he places great emphasis on both forming and firing, utilizing the unique characteristics of his materials and kilns (anagama, climbing, and electric kilns) to create a style imbued with a modern sensibility. He is also a leading figure in relief art, having released numerous works in this genre. He became a full member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1966. From 1978, he served as a lecturer in the Special Fine Arts Course at Okayama University for nine years. In 1998, he and his brother Mitsuru were both designated Holders of Important Intangible Cultural Property of Okayama Prefecture; that same year, he became the Secretary-General of the Chugoku branch of the Japan Kōgei Association. In July 2004, he was designated a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property by the Japanese government. Awards and honors include the Kaneshige Toyo Prize, the Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award, the Sanyo Shimbun Prize, and the Excellence Award at the Tea Ceremony Arts Exhibition, among many others; also served as a judge for the prefectural exhibition.