Bizen hexagonal plate

This hexagonal Bizen ware plate was created by Kenji Nakamoto, who first encountered pottery in Imbe during his university years and studied under Shin Isezaki. It is a hexagonal plate characterized by a clean and sophisticated appearance that completely dispels the image of Bizen ware being heavy and stifling. Mr. Nakamoto is rare among Bizen potters in that he specializes almost exclusively in tableware, and this piece reflects the refined sensibility and ingenuity typical of an artisan dedicated to functional ceramics. He uses a clay with a smooth, light texture, and by achieving a bright "goma" (sesame) glaze along with a vibrant "hi-iro" (scarlet) clay body, he has created a stylish and easy-to-use piece that still retains the defining features of Bizen—specifically, the way the colors shift when wet and how effectively the surface enhances the appearance of the food served upon it. One can clearly sense the meticulous care taken in crafting each piece, from the treatment of the edges to the texturing of the stone-like surface. Paper box
Diameter 18.0cm x 16.8cm x Height 2.2cm Kenji Nakamoto was born in Hiroshima Prefecture in 1975. In 1999, he graduated from the Ceramic Arts course at Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts and began his apprenticeship under Shin Isezaki that same year. In 2001, his work was selected for the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition. After being selected again the following year, he established his own independent studio in Kugui, Bizen City, in 2005. The year after, he built a multi-chambered climbing kiln (renbo-shiki noborigama) and has been dedicated to his craft ever since.