Bizen Large Tea Cup

This Bizen ware large tea cup by Shusaku Taku embodies the essence of Bizen pottery, which has matured alongside the continuous activities of people throughout history, shaped by the artist using daily inspirations as a catalyst. With a meticulous focus on clay and firing techniques, the piece features a rich "hi-dasuki" (fire-cord) pattern set against a brownish-black base reminiscent of a rocky surface. Its form, balancing a gentle rise with a powerful structure, is brought to life by inputting fine, subtle movements into the clay by hand. The serene, intricate texture and the landscape resembling withered fallen leaves recreate the world of "hiekitaru" (cool, withered beauty) once cherished by the great tea masters of old. Based on the concept of creating a large tea cup using the traditional "himo-zukuri" (coil-building) method, it stands with a magnificent silhouette that captures a pleasant tranquility similar to that of a Raku tea bowl. Paper box
Diameter 9.3cm x Diameter 9.3cm x Height 10.9cm Shusaku Taku was born in 1980 as the eldest son of Mamoru Taku. He graduated from the Saga Prefectural Arita College of Ceramics in 2001 and began his apprenticeship under his father. In 2002, he received the Okayama Prefectural Board of Education Superintendent's Award at the Japan Traditional Kogei Chugoku Branch Exhibition. In 2004, he won the Excellence Award at the Tanabe Museum of Art Tea Ceremony Modeling Exhibition. In addition, his work has been selected for the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition and the Japan Traditional Kogei Chugoku Branch Exhibition.