Bizen Sake Cup

This is a new Bizen sake cup by Koichiro Isezaki, who was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and who breathes new life into the Bizen pottery world with his exceptional sense and masterful sculpting ability. Intentionally departing from his previous style, this piece features a fresh, wheel-thrown design with a foot. While he previously formed his pieces by hollowing them out from the inside, this work features only subtle carvings on the exterior, making it a playful creation that could be called the "reverse side of Koichiro." In contrast to his past work, the rim is thick with a triangular spout; it offers the simple, user-friendly experience one expects, while also revealing the artist’s philosophy when compared to his earlier pieces.

View blog post related to this sake cup Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 7.5cm × Diameter 7.3cm × Height 6.2cm Koichiro Isezaki was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki. The Isezaki family is a prestigious name in Bizen pottery, with his grandfather being the Intangible Cultural Property holder Yozan Isezaki, and his uncle being Mitsuru Isezaki, also an Intangible Cultural Property holder. Koichiro aspired to be a ceramic artist from an early age. After graduating from the Tokyo University of Art and Design's sculpture department in 1994, he studied abroad in the United States. He studied pottery for approximately two years under Jeff Shapiro, a ceramic artist based in New York City, which greatly broadened his perspective on art and ceramics. After returning to Japan in 2000, he trained under the guidance of his father alongside his father's apprentices. In 2002, he submitted a work to the Tanabe Museum of Art’s Tea Ceremony Exhibition for the first time, where it was selected for the exhibit.