Bizen Guinomi

This is a Bizen sake cup by the master craftsman Mitsuru Isezaki, who loved Bizen ware and made significant contributions to the region. True to his belief that the essence of Bizen ware lies in the quality of the clay—a principle he upheld by insisting on using only the finest rice-field clay—this piece appears quite simple at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, one can see deep, rich tones of shiso-purple and orange, with a light dusting of gold gilding that further enhances the magnificent quality of the clay. The simple "goma" (sesame ash) and "sangiri" (partially reduced) finish is remarkably refined, embodying a classic Bizen aesthetic. While it is somewhat wide and large, it sits comfortably in the hand.
Includes signed wooden box (shiho-san).
Diameter 7.0cm x Diameter 6.7cm x Height 6.1cm Mitsuru Isezaki was born in 1934 as the eldest son of the designated Intangible Cultural Property holder Yozan Isezaki. He learned pottery techniques from his father from a young age and majored in sculpture at the Okayama University special art course. As a master of authentic tea ceramics, he pursued the forms, clay quality, and firing methods of the Momoyama period. He alternated between climbing kilns and medieval anagama kilns depending on the work, insisting on firing with pine wood rather than using electric or gas kilns. He became a full member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1964 and received the Toyo Kaneshige Prize in 1974. In 1994, he received the Sanyo Shimbun Cultural Merit Award, and in 1998, he won the 15th Tanabe Museum of Art Grand Prize. In March of the same year, he was designated as a Prefectural Important Intangible Cultural Property holder. He passed away in August 2011 at the age of 77.
Awards: Toyo Kaneshige Prize, 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 / Prefectural Exhibition Guest Artist