Bizen sake cup

This is a new Bizen ware sake cup by Koichiro Isezaki, who was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and has brought a breath of fresh air to the Bizen pottery world through his exceptional sense and skillful formative ability. It is a masterpiece imbued with a message that can only be expressed through earthenware, reflecting Koichiro-sensei's signature style of creating diverse expressions that make the most of the texture of the clay. Although Koichiro-sensei has previously created works with a unique sense of sculptural beauty that surprises the viewer, for this piece, he has made a bold 180-degree turn to a simple style created on the potter's wheel. In addition to the thin and light form achieved by throwing on the wheel, he has chosen a "goke-zoko" (Go-stone bowl base) instead of a carved base, suppressing his own artistic presence as much as possible. The carving of the goke-zoko resembles a hand-drawn "hanamaru" (flower mark), which remains the only part of the work that carries the mark of Koichiro-sensei's presence. With a dry, earthy quality that serves as a textbook example of an anagama kiln, amber-colored yohen (kiln transformation), and vibrant hidasuki (fire-cord) markings, the firing process is also straightforward and honest. Signed wooden box (shiho-san) included
Diameter 7.8cm × 7.5cm × Height 4.5cm 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 the Intangible Cultural Property holder Yozan Isezaki, and his uncle was the Intangible Cultural Property holder Mitsuru Isezaki. Koichiro 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 studied ceramics for about two years under Jeff Shapiro, a potter based in New York City, which greatly broadened his perspective on art and ceramics. After returning to Japan in 2000, he trained under the guidance of his father and his father's disciples. In 2002, he submitted work to the Tanabe Museum of Art's Tea Ceremony Exhibition for the first time and was selected.