Bizen Sake Cup

This Bizen sake cup is an earlier work by Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki, an artist who continues to lead the Bizen ware world with an inexhaustible well of creativity. It includes a ceramic resume dated 1980, suggesting it was produced around that time. It features a soft *hidasuki* (fire-cord) pattern that offers a glimpse into his later focus on wood-fired *anagama* kiln techniques. Unlike his current bold style, this piece exhibits an orthodox, approachable form. Signed wooden box (double-crosspiece construction) Jun Isezaki was born the second son of Yozan Isezaki, a master of decorative pottery, and learned the craft from childhood. After graduating from the Special Art Course at Okayama University in 1959, he dedicated himself to pottery. His work encompasses a wide range, from traditional items such as vases, plates, and tea ceremony wares to ceramic murals and sculptural objects. He places great importance on both the forming and the firing processes, utilizing the unique characteristics of his materials and various kilns (anagama, climbing, and electric) to create a style imbued with a modern sensibility. He is also a leading figure in relief art, having unveiled numerous works in that medium. He became a full member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1966 and served as a special lecturer at Okayama University for nine years starting in 1978. In 1998, he and his brother, Mitsuru Isezaki, were both designated as Holders of Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Cultural Properties, and he served as Secretary General of the Chugoku Branch of the Japan Kōgei Association that same year. In July 2004, he was designated a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure).
Awards: Recipient of the Kaneshige Toyo Award, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Excellence Award at the Tea Ceremony Sculpture Exhibition, and many others; served as a judge for the Prefectural Art Exhibition.