Bizen ware sake cup

This is a brand-new Bizen sake cup, freshly fired by the popular young artist Yoshiteru Koriki, who was an apprentice to the master Sozan Kaneshige. Fired at the end of September 2017, this latest work displays the consistent high quality characteristic of Koriki-sensei while showcasing a rich variety of excellent features. This piece displays the classic *haikaburi* (ash-covered) *yohen* (kiln transformation) scenery that is the hallmark of Bizen sake ware, with parts of the ash glaze carbonizing into a black-silver hue, revealing the intensity of the flames. The sharply defined *kumadori* (color variations) and the fresh-looking *nuke* (uncovered areas) possess an alluring charm, fully conveying the appeal of Bizen ware through the "firing technique that breathes life into the clay," which he learned under the tutelage of Sozan-sensei and Arihuni-sensei. The slightly flared base gives the small cup a powerful form, and combined with the well-fired ash glaze, it has an outstanding presence in the palm of your hand. Original signed wooden box (shiho-zan style)
Diameter 6.6cm x 6.5cm x Height 5.4cm Yoshiteru Koriki was born in Ako City, Hyogo Prefecture. Inspired by his father's love of pottery, he set his heart on becoming a ceramic artist. After graduating from high school, he apprenticed under the master potters Sozan Kaneshige and his son Arihuni from 1989 to learn the craft. After seven years of training, he built his own climbing kiln in Shizutani, Bizen City in 1996 and set out on his own, achieving success with his first firing 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 "Exhibition of Northern Confectionery Vessels I Want to Use," and in 2002, he was selected for the "Tea Ceremony Forms Exhibition" for the first time.