Bizen Sake Cup

This is a Bizen ware sake cup, fresh from the kiln, by Koichiro Isezaki—an artist who, born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki, has brought a breath of fresh air to the Bizen pottery world through his exceptional sense and masterful sculpting ability. The surface of this piece is embedded with pebbles, creating a romantic, planet-like landscape defined by the color contrast between the stones and the clay, as well as the intense kiln transformation characteristic of an anagama kiln. The yellow sesame glaze naturally fused into the surface combines with drips of ash from the kiln walls to form a beautiful, vitreous gray, offering a rich variety of scenery that never tires the eye. It is a delight to hold this "planet" in your hands and lose yourself in the exquisite firing achieved by the anagama kiln. (Please note that there is some minor flaking of the sesame glaze.) Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 8.3cm × Diameter 7.7cm × Height 6.1cm Koichiro Isezaki was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki. The Isezaki family is a prestigious name in Bizen ware; his grandfather was the Intangible Cultural Property holder Yozan Isezaki, and his uncle was the Intangible Cultural Property holder Mitsuru Isezaki, inspiring him to pursue pottery from a young age. After graduating from the Department of Sculpture at Tokyo Zokei University in 1994, he studied abroad in the United States. He spent two years apprenticing under New York-based ceramic artist Jeff Shapiro, which greatly broadened his perspective on art and pottery. Upon returning to Japan in 2000, he trained under his father alongside other apprentices. In 2002, he made his debut at the Tanabe Museum of Art’s Tea Ceremony Exhibition, where his work was selected for the first time.