Bizen tea bowl

This Bizen tea bowl is the work of the master craftsman Mitsuru Isezaki, a man who loved Bizen ware and made significant contributions to the region. The application of *nuri-tsuchi* (brushed slip) has resulted in a deep, rich purple surface reminiscent of damp sweet potato skin, offering a delightful visual experience enhanced by an exquisite, shimmering luster. The sesame-like *goma* glaze sprinkled across the deep, mellow shiso-purple hue creates a pleasant rhythm, while the interior is entirely covered in *goma*, balancing visual impact with ease of use. It is a tea bowl truly characteristic of Mitsuru-sensei, who valued the "tranquility" symbolized by the gentle carving of the foot. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 11.3cm × Diameter 11.3cm × Height 9.0cm Mitsuru Isezaki was born in 1934 as the eldest son of the holder of intangible cultural property, Yozan Isezaki. He learned pottery techniques from his father from a young age and later majored in sculpture at the Okayama University Special Art Course. A master of authentic tea ceramics, he pursued Momoyama-period styling, earthen textures, and firing techniques. He used both climbing kilns and medieval-style anagama kilns depending on the piece, strictly avoiding electric or gas kilns in favor of firing with split pine wood. He became a full member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1964 and received the Kaneshige Toyo Prize in 1974. He was awarded the Sanyo Shimbun Cultural Merit Award in 1994 and the 15th Tanabe Museum of Art Grand Prize in 1998. In March of that same year, he was designated as a Prefectural Important Intangible Cultural Property holder. He passed away in August 2011 at the age of 77.
Awards: Kaneshige Toyo Prize, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Art and Culture Merit Award, Grand Prize at the Tea Ceremony Modeling Exhibition, and many others / Guest exhibitor at the Prefectural Exhibition