Hikidashi black tea bowl

This is a brand-new *hikidashi-guro* (drawn-out black) tea bowl, fresh from the kiln, by Masao Akiya, an artist who trained under Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and creates works brimming with a unique originality within a modern spirit. This is the first new work from Masao Akiya in approximately two years since his last kiln opening. Featuring the *hikidashi-guro* technique, a hallmark of the Isezaki school, the bowl possesses a mystical allure that captures the very essence of the intense, ultra-high-temperature kiln environment where human intervention is impossible. The rapid cooling from the drawing-out process creates an exquisite transition between the black and *goma* (sesame-like ash glaze) effects, resulting in a profound, ethereal landscape where amber, indigo, and ink-black hues intertwine. The form was created by hollowing out a solid block of clay and pushing it outward from the inside; the wrinkles in the clay from this expansion are highlighted by the clear kiln transformation resulting from the *hikidashi* technique, serving as a primary focal point. It is not overly large, with a comfortable size that fits perfectly in both hands, allowing you to enjoy matcha casually and leisurely at home. Signed wooden box (shiho-san) included
Diameter 12.6cm × Diameter 12.3cm × Height 10.1cm Masao Akiya was born in Saitama in 1968. He began his apprenticeship under Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki in 1998, and after ten years of training, he built his own kiln in Bizen and became independent in 2008. He held his first kiln opening in 2009. His work has been selected for the Tanabe Museum of Art's "Tea Ceremony Modeling Exhibition" and the Japan Kōgei Association Chugoku Branch Exhibition, and he has received awards including the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition Prize and the Incentive Award.