Hikidashi-guro sake bottle

This is a new *hikidashi-guro* (pulled-out black) sake bottle by Koichiro Isezaki, who was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and is breathing new life into the world of Bizen ware with his exceptional sense and masterful shaping skills. By placing it in a dedicated spot near the stokehole during firing and removing it from the kiln before the firing process concludes, a dramatic transformation occurs in the *yohen* (kiln change). You can see a completely different face of Bizen *yohen* than what is usually encountered, such as the *goma* glaze turning a translucent, slightly greenish hue and the black areas exhibiting a pale light blue. Because it was placed in the path of the flames (*himae*), its body is coated in a massive amount of *goma*, and at the center, there is a magnificent *damadare* (droplet of glaze) that looks like a solidified obsidian bead formed by the flowing *goma*. Signed wooden box to follow (please allow some time for shipping)
Mouth rim 3.6cm × Body diameter including *damadare* 9.3cm × Body diameter 9.0cm × Height 16.6cm　Capacity approx. 410cc Koichiro Isezaki was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki. The Isezaki family is a prestigious lineage in Bizen ware; his grandfather was the intangible cultural property holder Yozan Isezaki, and his uncle was the intangible cultural property holder Mitsuru Isezaki. He aspired to become a ceramic artist from an early age. After graduating from the sculpture department of Tokyo Zokei University in 1994, he studied abroad in the United States. He trained for approximately two years under Jeff Shapiro, a ceramic artist residing in New York City, which greatly broadened his perspective on art and ceramics. 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.