Bizen Sake Cup

This is a new Bizen sake cup by Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki, who continues to lead the world of Bizen ware with an inexhaustible creative power. This latest piece was fired in the subterranean kiln at Koya-san, which he reconstructed together with his father, Yozen, and brother, Mitsuru. The crisp, white clay is beautifully complemented by the supple *hidasuki* (fire-cord) markings and bright *goma* (sesame-seed ash glaze). The generous application of yellow *goma* creates an amber-toned gradation that serves as a wonderful accent to the white clay. The bold hexagonal design is a signature of Isezaki-sensei; he shapes the piece into a hexagon by tapping it with a special lever, and the resulting linear patterns left on the surface add a geometric accent to the traditional form. Its size, designed to be held in the palm of one's hand—another hallmark of his work—also carries a powerful presence. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 6.5cm × Diameter 6.4cm × Height 7.0cm Jun Isezaki was born the second son of Yozen Isezaki, an artist renowned for his intricate ceramic craft. He learned pottery from a young age and embarked on a professional career after graduating from the Special Art Course at Okayama University in 1959. His body of work is vast, ranging from traditional items such as vases, plates, and tea ceremony ceramics to sculptural pieces and ceramic murals. In his creative process, he places great emphasis on both shaping and firing. His style is characterized by a modern sensibility that maximizes the unique qualities of his materials and various kilns (anagama, climbing kilns, and electric kilns). Furthermore, he is widely recognized as a leading figure in relief art. He became a full member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1966. For nine years starting in 1978, he served as a special art lecturer at Okayama University. In 1998, he and his brother Mitsuru were both designated as Holders of Important Intangible Cultural Property of Okayama Prefecture, and in the same year, he became the Secretary-General of the Chugoku Branch of the Japan Kōgei Association. In July 2004, he was designated as a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure).
Awards: Recipient of the Kaneshige Toyo Award, Okayama Prefectural Cultural Encouragement Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, and the Excellence Award at the Tea Ceremony Arts Exhibition, among many others / Prefectural Exhibition Juror