Bizen-nuri clay fire-cord sake cup

This is a Bizen "nuri-tsuchi" (painted clay) hi-dasuki sake cup by Yoshiteru Koriki, a popular young artist who was an apprentice to the master Sozan Kaneshige. This latest work was removed from the kiln in January 2017 and features a completely original concept of applying slip to a base of "ta-tsuchi" (rice paddy clay) before firing it with hi-dasuki (fire-cord) techniques. The brush-applied slip itself turns white like a feldspar glaze, and combined with the underlying reddish-brown clay, it has an atmosphere similar to "nerikomi" (marbled clay). Regarding the texture of the surface, it is somewhat rougher, a complete departure from standard hi-dasuki; this unique tactile sensation, reminiscent of Japanese paper (washi), is a novelty not seen in previous works by Koriki. Even with the slip, the beautiful coloring of the hi-dasuki remains unchanged, and the smooth texture of the hi-dasuki forms a contrast with the slip. The foot is somewhat wide, with a finish that is reminiscent of Sozan-sensei. Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
Diameter 6.4cm x Diameter 6.4cm x Height 5.6cm Yoshiteru Koriki was born in Ako City, Hyogo Prefecture. Influenced by his father, who loved pottery, he set his heart on a career in ceramics. After graduating from high school, he studied pottery techniques under the father-and-son team of Sozan and Yuho Kaneshige starting in 1989. After seven years of training, he built his own climbing kiln in Shizutani, Bizen City, in 1996 and set out on his own, successfully firing his first kiln the following year. He held his first solo exhibition in Tokyo in 2000 and has held annual solo exhibitions ever since. In 1999, his work was selected for the "Exhibition of Northern Confectionery Containers I Want to Use," and in 2002, he was selected for the "Tea Ceremony Modeling Exhibition" for the first time.