Bizen tea cup

This is a Bizen tea cup from the earlier works of Suehiro Koyama, who was born to the master craftsman known as the first Issou Koyama and was also mentored by Sozan Kaneshige. This tea cup features a magnificent texture characteristic of Suehiro Koyama, who searched for high-quality clay alongside Sozan Kaneshige. Its bright, brownish, and refreshing clay quality is truly a product of superior rice-paddy clay, and even the white clay portions accented by "hidasuki" (fire-cord) markings exhibit an elegant, faintly bluish hue. While intended as a tea cup, it is slightly smaller in size, and its form—which inherits the dynamic spirit of Sozan Kaneshige—also makes it an intriguing option as a slightly larger sake cup. (Although this is an earlier work, there is almost no sign of use. Please note that the artist's biography is not included.) Signed wooden box (double-crosspiece lid)
Diameter 7.5cm × Diameter 7.3cm × Height 6.8cm Suehiro Koyama was born in Imbe as the third son of the master craftsman Issou Koyama I, who excelled in intricate ceramic work. After graduating from Bizen High School, he trained for over four years at the Toushoen kiln before building his own kiln and becoming independent in 1971. He received mentorship from Sozan Kaneshige, from whom he learned aesthetic sensibilities and a sense of balance. In 1973, his work was selected for the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition. He also received awards seven times at the Okayama Prefectural Exhibition, including the Sanyo Shimbun Award, the Prefectural Governor's Award, and the Prefectural Exhibition Award, and was appointed as a commissioned artist in 1984. He won awards six times at the Issuikai Exhibition starting in 1979, and also achieved selection and award status at the Tanabe Art Museum Exhibition.