Bizen Handmade Houhin Teapot

This is a Bizen handmade *houbin* (teapot for brewing sake) by Rokuro Nakamura, a traditional craftsman whom Bizen takes pride in, and who was hailed as a god of sake vessel making. The intensely austere appearance, characteristic of Master Rokuro Nakamura—a man called a master of sake vessel making—seems to be the pinnacle of *wabi* that can only be attained by grappling with clay for many years. The surface, deeply flavorful with the wrinkles of hand-pinched drying, shows hints of scarlet brought about by the blessing of high-quality clay; looking at it makes one want to use it extensively and nurture it immediately. The flavor of other areas is also magnificent, with a faintly glowing reddish-purple to orange earthiness that reveals the quality of the clay at a single glance. It also features Master Rokuro Nakamura's unique stitched-style *houbin* craftsmanship, making it a masterpiece that becomes more intriguing the longer you look at it. (Although this is a slightly older work, please note in advance that there is absolutely no sense of use.) Signed box (two-way crossbar)
Diameter including spout 9.7cm × Body diameter 8.8cm × Height including lid 7.5cm Until the end of the war, Master Rokuro Nakamura worked as a company employee, but in 1945 he began studying under Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige to refine his skills, and in 1961 he built the Rokuro Kiln and went independent. On the potter's wheel, he preferred to create sake vessels such as *tokkuri*. Using the *tatara* slab-building technique, he also worked on *houbin*, *kyusu* (teapots), and tea bowls. With an artless and wild style, he valued the firing process because it is unglazed pottery, and he also put great effort into loading the kiln, which determines the quality of the work. He was a traditional craftsman since 1986, won the Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Award that same year, and was awarded the Order of the Blue Paulownia Leaves in the spring decorations of 1989. He passed away in April 2004.