Bizen Sake Cup

This is a Bizen sake cup by Living National Treasure Toshu Yamamoto, a master who created numerous masterpieces with peerless skills described as godlike. This sake cup dates from the final years of Toshu’s life, after he had lived through turbulent times and been designated a Living National Treasure, having started his career as a craftsman. The perfectly symmetrical, refined form—characteristic of a master who spent his entire life facing the potter’s wheel—is a pleasure to behold. Fired at the back of the kiln rather than near the flame, it has a subdued, weathered aesthetic that embodies the essence of Bizen ware. In contrast to the symmetrical form, the surface is divided into a gray *sangiri* (smoky reduction) side and a bright brown earthen side, allowing the viewer to enjoy a different charm from each angle. Judging by the box inscription and the potter’s mark, this is a late-life work, yet the remarkably swift and precise carving of the foot reveals no hint of age, showing that the master’s body had so thoroughly committed the craft to memory that it transcended mere logic and technique. Original signed box (four-sided join)
Diameter 6.7cm × Diameter 6.6cm × Height 5.3cm Toshu Yamamoto (1906–1994, born in Inbe, Bizen City) entered the world of pottery in 1921 and established his own kiln in 1933. He later refined his skills under the tutelage of Kyoto ceramic artist Yaichi Kusube. After the war, he deepened his friendships with figures such as Rosanjin Kitaoji and Isamu Noguchi. Known as "Toshu of the Wheel" for his superior throwing technique, he created delicate works and ambitiously engaged in the production of tea ceramics, primarily tea caddies, establishing his status as a master of the form. He had a particular fondness for tea caddies and produced many. He was designated a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property by the Japanese government in 1987. In 1992, he held the exhibition "Travels through the Six Ancient Kilns: Living National Treasure Toshu Yamamoto."
Major awards: Okayama Prefectural Cultural Award, Miki Memorial Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Chugoku Cultural Award, Mainichi Art Award, Bizen City Distinguished Service Award, Medal with Purple Ribbon, Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, 4th Class, Honorary Citizen of Bizen City