Bizen ware sake cup

This Bizen sake cup is by Koichiro Isezaki, who was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and has brought a breath of fresh air to the world of Bizen pottery with his exceptional sense and masterful sculptural skills. This design is intentionally the polar opposite of his previous work, with the wheel-thrown form featuring a foot appearing fresh and new. While he previously used a hollowed-out technique to shape the interior, this piece features only subtle carving on the exterior, resulting in a playful work that could be called "The Other Side of Koichiro." The flamboyant scenery of the wood-fired kiln shines within the orthodox form, and inside the cup, the golden sesame-seed glaze (goma) seems to bloom magnificently, accompanying the aroma of the sake. Signed wooden box (shiho-san) included
Diameter 7.3cm x Diameter 7.1cm x Height 5.8cm 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 the Intangible Cultural Property holder Mitsuru Isezaki; Koichiro himself aspired to be a potter from an early age. After graduating from the sculpture department of Tokyo Zokei University in 1994, he studied abroad in the United States. He studied ceramics for approximately two years under New York City-based potter Jeff Shapiro, significantly broadening his perspective on art and ceramics. After returning to Japan in 2000, he trained under the guidance of his father and his father's apprentices. In 2002, he submitted a work to the Tanabe Museum of Art Tea Ceremony Exhibition for the first time and was selected.