Bizen sake cup

This is a Bizen sake cup by Living National Treasure Yu Fujiwara, an artist who expanded his perspective not only within Japan but across the world to share the appeal of Bizen ware. The style is instantly recognizable as that of Yu Fujiwara; it is a piece that confronts the viewer with a naked heart, devoid of mere technical tricks. The deep, heavy, muted clay tone characteristic of Fujiwara’s work blends seamlessly with a crisp, bright yellow sesame glaze. The overall shiso (perilla-leaf) color is veiled in a smoky finish, and the rich, deep hue is overlaid with a shimmering silver coating, creating a truly beautiful luster. The high-quality yellow sesame glaze, born from excellent pine firewood, even features areas of scorching, with the textured, burnt sesame accents adding depth to the landscape of the piece. Original wooden box (with two-way crosspieces)
Diameter 7.0cm × Diameter 7.0cm × Height 5.7cm Yu Fujiwara (1932–2001, born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture) was the eldest son of Living National Treasure Kei Fujiwara. In his pottery, he embraced the motto "Simple, Clear, and Bold," creating many vases and bowls, which earned him the nickname "Yu of the Vases." Influenced by Rosanjin Kitaoji, he was also highly skilled in creating tableware. Starting in 1972, he held a series of exhibitions, including the "100 Vases Exhibition," "Tokkuri (Sake Flask) Exhibition," "100 Flowers Exhibition," and "100 Bowls Exhibition." He also produced numerous large-scale reliefs and objects. He received the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 1967. In 1980, he was designated a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property by Okayama Prefecture. In 1996, he became the first person in the world of ceramics to become a nationally designated Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure), following in his father's footsteps as the second generation to receive the honor.
Major awards include: Kaneshige Toyo Award, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award, Okayama Cultural Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Chugoku Culture Award, Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts, Academia Prize for Arts and Culture, and the Medal with Blue Ribbon.