Bizen Large Tea Cup

This large Bizen-yaki tea cup is the work of Shusaku Taku, an artist who shapes his pieces by using the various emotions of daily life as his "yeast," while drawing inspiration from Bizen ware that has matured alongside the continuous activities of people throughout history. With a fastidious focus on the clay and firing process, he has paired a rocky, brownish-red base with rich hidasuki (fire-cord) markings. The form, which possesses both a gentle rise and a powerful structure, was brought to life by inputting fine, meticulous movements into the clay by hand. The serene and intricate motion, combined with the withered-leaf appearance, recreates the "hiekaruru" (chilled and withered) aesthetic beloved by the great tea masters of the past. Based on the concept of crafting large tea cups using the traditional coil-building technique, it is now possible to fully enjoy the simple yet powerful texture reminiscent of Muromachi-period old Bizen in a piece for everyday use. Paper box
Diameter 9.2cm × Diameter 9.2cm × Height 11.3cm Shusaku Taku was born in 1980 as the eldest son of Mamoru Taku. He graduated from the Arita College of Ceramics in Saga Prefecture in 2001 and began his apprenticeship under his father, Mamoru Taku. 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 Molding Exhibition. He has also been selected for the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition and the Japan Traditional Kogei Chugoku Branch Exhibition.