Bizen sake cup

This is a newly fired Bizen sake cup by Yoshiteru Kouriki, a popular young artist who was an inner disciple of the late master Sozan Kaneshige. Fresh from the kiln in late September 2017, this latest work showcases the consistent quality typical of Kouriki, yet stands out as an exceptionally varied piece. While it features the classic "haikaburi" (ash-covered) kiln transformation typical of top-tier Bizen sake ware, it is a rare cup that also exhibits a mysterious, unprecedented firing color. Although fired so intensely that the ash has risen, the outer edges were not completely overfired, resulting in a vivid, bright crimson scarlet. At the same time, the interior has been fired so hard that it reveals a black clay texture; this reversal of hardness between the inside and outside is highly unusual. Original signed wooden box (shiho-zan) with cover
Diameter 6.8cm x 6.8cm x Height 5.4cm Yoshiteru Kouriki was born in Ako City, Hyogo Prefecture. Inspired by his pottery-loving father, he pursued the path of ceramics, and after graduating from high school in 1989, he apprenticed under the master Sozan Kaneshige and his son Yuho to learn the craft. After seven years of training, he established his own climbing kiln in Shizutani, Bizen City in 1996 and set out on his own, 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, his work was selected for the "Exhibition of Northern Confectionery Vessels I'd Like to Use," and in 2002, he was selected for the "Tea Ceremony Modeling Exhibition" for the first time.