Bizen ware spouted sake server

This is a Bizen katakuchi sake server by the popular young artist Yoshiteru Koriki, an inner apprentice to the master Sozan Kaneshige. The dignified texture of the clay, inherited from Sozan Kaneshige, may appear understated at first glance, but it is of exceptionally high quality, clearly demonstrating what sets superior clay apart from the rest. The luscious texture of the clay on the side opposite the *goma* (ash glaze) is truly magnificent; it has the bright brown hue of slightly melted chocolate, and given its luster, one could easily be fooled into thinking it might actually melt to the touch. While this piece features incredibly high-quality clay, it is affordably priced and is a work I can recommend to everyone as a sake server. Paper box
Diameter (including spout) 14.8cm × diameter 12.5cm × height 7.0cm Yoshiteru Koriki was born in Ako City, Hyogo Prefecture. Influenced by his father, who loved pottery, he aspired to a career in ceramics and, after graduating from high school, began studying the craft under the master Sozan Kaneshige and his son Yuho in 1989. After seven years of training, he built his own climbing kiln in Shizutani, Bizen City, in 1996 to strike out on his own, 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, he submitted a piece to the "Northern Confectionery Vessels I'd Like to Use" exhibition and was selected; in 2002, he was selected for the "Chanoyu Modeling" exhibition for the first time.