Bizen Guinomi

This is a brand new Bizen sake cup, freshly taken from the kiln by Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki, an artist who continues to lead the world of Bizen ware with a creativity that never withers. This piece was fired in the underground anagama kiln that he restored alongside his father, Yozan, and his brother, Mitsuru, and it beautifully showcases the unique characteristics of anagama firing. The piece is rich in textures that evoke the fierce flames of the kiln, with "yellow sesame" (ki-goma) glazes fired until they reach a glass-like sheen, and a striking scarlet *hidasuki* cord marking across the front. The rice straw wrapped around the piece absorbed the ash glaze, creating a dynamic, sweeping "sesame" landscape that resembles an action painting. While the overall surface is smooth and pleasant to the touch like glass, the interior of the cup features a contrast: a dry, earthy sesame texture that seems to seep into the clay, pairing beautifully with the moist, glass-like exterior. The base of the cup incorporates Jun’s signature *uchimon* (beating) technique, where he has carved lines while shaping the vessel into a gentle hexagon—a novel and fascinating touch. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 7.4cm x 6.9cm x Height 6.3cm Jun Isezaki was born as the second son of Yozan Isezaki, a master of ceramic craft, and began learning pottery in his youth. After graduating from the Okayama University Special Art Course in 1959, he fully entered the world of ceramics. His work spans a wide range, from traditional items like flower vases, plates, and tea ceremony wares to sculptural objects and ceramic wall art. He places great emphasis on both shaping and firing, utilizing the distinct qualities of various materials and kilns (anagama, climbing, and electric kilns) to create a style imbued with a modern sensibility. He is also a leading figure in relief art, having unveiled numerous works. He became a regular member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1966 and served as a special lecturer in fine arts at Okayama University for nine years starting in 1978. In 1998, he and his brother Mitsuru were both designated as Holders of Important Intangible Cultural Property of Okayama Prefecture, and in the same year, he became the Secretary General of the Chugoku branch of the Japan Kōgei Association. In July 2004, he was designated as a Living National Treasure.
Awards include: Kaneshige Toyo Award, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Excellence Award at the Tea Ceremony Modeling Exhibition, and many others / Prefectural Exhibition Judge