Bizen sake bottle

This is a Bizen sake flask from the earlier period of the late Rokuro Nakamura, a Bizen master craftsman renowned as a "god of sake ware." While Nakamura is typically known for his soft "amayaki" (low-fired) pieces, this work is an exceptional exception, featuring a very coarse clay reminiscent of mountain soil, resulting in a rugged texture highlighted by striking splashes of scarlet. Its coloration and aesthetic depth are reminiscent of antique Bizen, and when wet, the contrast between the vivid, revitalized colors and the bold, iron-flecked clay surface is truly remarkable. Unlike his later works, which often display distinct color boundaries due to kiln transformation, the colors in this piece blur into one another, blending a rich, vibrant variety of shades. Among them, the orange "nanban-yashime" style clay color and the deep, perilla-red hues appearing in the "nuke" (fire-marked areas) are particularly intense and eye-catching. The yellow "goma" (ash glaze) and "sangiri" (reduction firing) effects on the back further accentuate the deep orange and perilla tones, revealing a different charm of Rokuro's artistry compared to his later years. (There is some evidence of use, though no significant stains; please be aware that this is an earlier work.) Signed wooden box (shihozan) included
Rim diameter 3.8cm x Body diameter 8.3cm x Body diameter 8.2cm x Height 13.9cm, Capacity approx. 400cc Rokuro Nakamura worked for a company until the end of the war, after which he apprenticed under Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige in 1945 to refine his skills, eventually establishing his own Rokuro Kiln in 1961. He preferred creating sake ware like flasks on the potter's wheel, though he also produced teapots, "awabin" (bubble bottles), and tea bowls using the "tatara" slab-building method. His style was rustic and wild, and as his work was unglazed, he placed great importance on the firing process and took great care in packing the kiln, which determined the quality of his work. He was recognized as a traditional craftsman in 1986, the same year he received the Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Award, and in 1989, he was awarded the Order of the Blue Paulownia Leaves in the Spring Decoration. He passed away in April 2004.