Bizen white sake cup

This is a new white sake cup by Koichiro Isezaki, who was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and who breathes new life into the world of Bizen ware with his exceptional sense and masterful sculpting ability. It is a masterpiece imbued with a message that only an earthenware piece can express, showcasing Koichiro’s signature style of creating diverse expressions that highlight the texture of the clay. He used Ibe white clay, for which he has a deep passion; by tearing a large ball of clay into two pieces and joining them together before shaping it into a sphere, the tear marks and the joined surfaces have transformed into a striking landscape that reveals the face of the clay. In addition to the all-white aesthetic characteristic of white clay, natural glaze from the kiln firing has fallen onto the surface, layering an even richer white over the base like action painting. Inside the cup, beautiful yellow sesame (kigoma) has emerged, standing out wonderfully against the white, with a high-quality hue that looks as though gold dust has been gathered, creating a gorgeous and magnificent appearance. Signed box (shiho-san)
Diameter 8.5cm x Diameter 8.3cm x Height 5.7cm Koichiro Isezaki was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki. The Isezaki family is a prestigious name in Bizen ware; his grandfather was Intangible Cultural Property holder Yozan Isezaki, and his uncle was Intangible Cultural Property holder Mitsuru Isezaki, and he himself aspired to be a potter from an early age. After graduating from the sculpture department of Tokyo Zokei University in 1994, he studied abroad in the United States. He learned ceramics for about two years under Jeff Shapiro, a potter based in New York City, which greatly broadened his perspective on art and pottery. After returning to Japan in 2000, he trained under the guidance of his father and his father's disciples. He first exhibited and was selected for the Tanabe Museum of Art Tea Ceremony Exhibition in 2002.