Ibe Hidasuki Crane-Neck Flower Vase

This is an Ibe Hidasuki crane-neck flower vase by the master craftsman Mitsuru Isezaki, who loved Bizen ware and made significant contributions to Bizen. This crane-neck vase was created by Master Isezaki as a recreation of the Hidasuki crane-neck flower vase featured in the book "Chronological Catalog of Bizen Ware Masterpieces" published in the early Showa period. The Hidasuki, fired by Master Isezaki with his heart and soul, is vivid yet simple and warm; its coloration, which appears like flickering flames or flowers in full bloom, is truly magnificent and in no way inferior to the early masterpieces of the old Bizen large kilns. The "janome" (snake's eye) foot, a hallmark of the crane-neck style, was carved freehand, and the slightly hesitant carving marks are wonderfully artless and tasteful. Although listed as a flower vase, it measures just under 17 cm and can also be used as a sake bottle (tokkuri). Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Rim 4.5 cm x Body diameter 10.1 cm x Body diameter 10.0 cm x Height 16.9 cm, Capacity 380 cc Master Mitsuru Isezaki was born in 1934 as the eldest son of the Intangible Cultural Property holder Yozan Isezaki. He learned pottery techniques from his father from an early age and majored in sculpture at the Okayama University Special Art Course. As an authentic tea ceramicist, he pursued Momoyama-style molding, clay texture, and firing techniques. Depending on the piece, he used both climbing kilns and medieval anagama kilns, strictly refusing to use electric or gas kilns, preferring firing with pine firewood. He became a regular member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1964 and received the Toyo Kaneshige Award in 1974. He received the Sanyo Shimbun Cultural Achievement Award in 1994 and the 15th Tanabe Museum of Art Grand Prize in 1998. In March of the same year, he was certified as a Prefectural Important Intangible Cultural Property holder. He passed away in August 2011 at the age of 77.
Awards: Toyo Kaneshige Award, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Art and Cultural Achievement Award, Grand Prize at the Tea Ceremony Molding Exhibition, and many others / Invited artist at the Prefectural Exhibition