Hidasuki Sake Bottle

This is a newly fired *hidaski* (fire-cord) sake bottle, a fresh work by the popular young artist Yoshiteru Koriki, a former apprentice to the master Sozan Kaneshige. Fired at the end of September 2017, this latest piece exemplifies Koriki-sensei’s characteristically high and consistent quality while showcasing a rich variety of expression. In this work, he demonstrates the fresh Momoyama-style *hidaski* he inherited from his mentor, Sozan Kaneshige, through the use of an electric kiln. Following the teaching that a potter must nurture their work in the kiln like a newborn baby, Koriki-sensei fires his pieces in an electric kiln for a duration as exceptionally long as that of a *noborigama* (climbing kiln); this bottle features the deep, seasoned *mogusa* (mugwort-colored) clay body and the elegant, indescribable hues of the *hidaski* that are simply magnificent. Straw was placed heavily around the waist and wrapped up toward the neck to create the *hidaski* patterns, and the rim, delicately tinged as if with lipstick, exudes a wonderful allure that is further enhanced by the high quality of the clay. Signed wooden box (*shihōzan* construction)
Rim 3.8cm × Body diameter 9.0cm × 9.0cm × Height 12.8cm; Capacity: approx. 320cc Yoshiteru Koriki was born in Akō City, Hyogo Prefecture. Influenced by his father’s love of ceramics, he aspired to pursue the path of pottery, and after graduating from high school, he studied the craft under the father-son team of Sozan and Yuho Kaneshige beginning in 1989. After seven years of training, he built a climbing kiln in Shizutani, Bizen City, and struck out on his own in 1996, successfully firing his first kiln the following year. He held his first solo exhibition in Tokyo in 2000 and has held annual solo exhibitions ever since. In 1999, he was selected for the "Pottery for Sweets from the North" exhibition, and in 2002, he was selected for the "Forms of Tea Ceremony" exhibition for the first time.