Bizen Hidasuki Teacup

This is a Bizen ware *hidasuki* (fire-cord) tea cup by the master craftsman Mitsuru Isezaki, a man who loved Bizen ware and contributed greatly to the region. True to the Isezaki family's reputation for *hidasuki* firing, this piece features a profound, *mogusa*-colored clay body adorned with stunning Momoyama-style *hidasuki* markings. Among the unglazed, high-fired Bizen works, *hidasuki* exposes the bare skin of the clay, avoiding even the natural glaze that might otherwise settle on the surface; it is here that the master's skillful technique—honed through a deep understanding of the quality of the clay and the nuances of kiln firing—truly shines. The form itself is orthodox, never overly assertive, and designed to let the *hidasuki* take center stage; its simplicity ensures that it never grows tiresome, making it a delight for daily use. This piece offers an accessible way to enjoy magnificent *hidasuki*, making it an ideal choice for pottery enthusiasts and a perfect gift. Original signed wooden box (with double-slat lid)
Diameter 7.6cm × Diameter 7.6cm × Height 8.7cm Born in 1934 as the eldest son of Intangible Cultural Property holder Yozan Isezaki, Mitsuru Isezaki learned pottery from his father at an early age and went on to major in sculpture at Okayama University's Special Art Course. As an authentic practitioner of tea ceramics, he pursued the forms, clay textures, and firing techniques of the Momoyama period. He distinguished between the use of climbing kilns and medieval-style tunnel kilns depending on the work, insisting on firing with pine wood and eschewing electric or gas kilns. He became a regular member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1964 and received the Toyo Kaneshige Memorial Award in 1974. He was honored with the Sanyo Shimbun Cultural Merit Award in 1994 and the 15th Tanabe Museum of Art Grand Prize in 1998. In March of that same year, he was designated as a holder of an Okayama Prefectural Important Intangible Cultural Property. He passed away in August 2011 at the age of 77.
Awards: Toyo Kaneshige Memorial Award, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Art and Culture Merit Award, Grand Prize at the Tea Ceremony Form Exhibition, and many others / Invited contributor to the Prefectural Exhibition.