Bizen sake cup

This is a Bizen sake cup by Rokuro Nakamura, a master craftsman who took pride in Bizen ware and was celebrated as a god of sake vessel creation. It is a very rare piece crafted using the "tatara" technique, in which clay—often used for making teapots—is rolled into slabs and then assembled. The slab of clay is wrapped around a cylindrical form and joined at the base and sides, resulting in a sake cup with a soft, gentle expression distinct from wheel-thrown pieces, characterized by unique seams and subtle wrinkles formed during the drying process. While the overall form possesses the gentle lines of a handmade object, the finishing of the rim—the life of any sake cup—and the precise carving of the foot give it an atmosphere reminiscent of a miniature tea bowl. The texture of the clay is simple and retains its natural quality to match the soft, gentle form, further refining the piece’s outstanding presence. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 7.4cm × Diameter 7.3cm × Height 4.9cm Rokuro Nakamura worked for a company until the end of the war, but in 1945, he began his apprenticeship under Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige to hone his skills, eventually establishing his own Rokuro kiln in 1961. He preferred creating sake vessels like tokkuri on the potter's wheel, while using the tatara technique for items such as hobin, teapots, and tea bowls. His style was rustic and wild; as he worked with unglazed stoneware, he valued the firing process immensely and put great effort into kiln loading, which determined the quality of his work. He was named a Traditional Craftsman in 1986, the same year he received the Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Award, and in 1989, he was awarded the Order of the Blue Paulownia Leaves, Seventh Class, in the Spring Decorations. He passed away in April 2004.