Bizen sake cup

This is a Bizen sake cup by Rokuro Nakamura, a master craftsman of Bizen ware and a renowned legend in the art of sake vessel making. Unlike the scarlet hue that emanates from the very core of the clay—a signature of Nakamura’s work—this piece, fired over 30 years ago, features a hard-fired "shiso" (perilla) color. The softly rounded silhouette, which hints at the shaping techniques of his final years, fits perfectly in the hand, a true testament to his mastery. The interior features a crescent-moon-shaped refractory clay inlay, where the "nuke" (the moon-shaped unglazed spot) emerging from the dark sesame-like ash glaze will surely enhance the experience of enjoying sake by moonlight. (Please note that this is a pre-owned item and shows signs of use.) Signed wooden box (double-slat lid)
Diameter 7.0cm × Diameter 7.0cm × Height 5.0cm Rokuro Nakamura worked as a company employee until the end of the war, after which he apprenticed under Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige in 1945 to refine his skills, eventually establishing his own Rokuro Kiln in 1961. He preferred crafting sake vessels like tokkuri (sake bottles) on the potter's wheel, while also creating foam pitchers, kyusu (teapots), and tea bowls using the slab-building technique. His style was rustic and brimming with a wild vitality; as a maker of unglazed stoneware, he deeply valued the firing process and devoted great effort to the kiln-loading process, which determines the quality of the work. He was certified as a Traditional Craftsman in 1986, the same year he received the Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Prize. In 1989, he was awarded the Order of the Blue Paulownia Leaves in the spring decorations. He passed away in April 2004.