Bizen sake bottle

This is a newly fired Bizen sake bottle by the popular young artist Yoshiteru Kouriki, a former apprentice to the master Sozan Kaneshige. Fired at the end of September 2017, this latest work displays the consistent quality characteristic of Kouriki-sensei while showcasing a rich variety of artistic features. This piece displays the quintessential "haikaburi" (ash-covered) kiln transformation typical of fine Bizen sake ware, with parts of the ash glaze carbonizing into a metallic black-silver, revealing the intensity of the flames within the kiln. The sharply defined "kumadori" markings and the fresh, untarnished "nuke" spots exude a refined allure, fully conveying the charm of Bizen ware through the "firing technique that breathes life into the clay," a philosophy instilled in him by his mentors, Sozan and Yuho Kaneshige. The shape, with its slightly sloping shoulders and tapered waist, carries a unique sensuality reminiscent of Sozan-sensei’s style, and it promises to be a delightful companion for your drinks, producing a crisp, rhythmic sound as you pour. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Rim 3.4cm × Body diameter 8.3cm × 8.3cm × Height 12.6cm　Capacity approx. 310cc Yoshiteru Kouriki was born in Ako City, Hyogo Prefecture. Influenced by his father, who loved pottery, he set his heart on the path of ceramics. After graduating from high school in 1989, he studied the craft under the father-son duo of Sozan and Yuho Kaneshige. Following seven years of training, he built an ascending kiln in Shizutani, Bizen City, to strike out on his own in 1996, and successfully fired 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 "Kita no Kashiki" (Northern Confectionery Vessels) exhibition, and in 2002, he was selected for the "Chanoyu no Zokei" (Forms of Tea Ceremony) exhibition for the first time.