Kuro Mugcup

This is a new black mug by Masao Akitani, who studied under Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and creates works full of unique originality infused with a fresh spirit. It is crafted using the Kuro-Bizen (black Bizen) technique inherited from his mentor, Jun Isezaki, resulting in a beautiful black color that has a deep luster while maintaining a warm tone. He uses black clay from Osafune Isokami, which is dissolved and applied to the surface to develop the black color; because it is an applied slip, the exact shade of black changes subtly depending on the kiln fire. This piece features a smooth, lustrous sheen across the entire black surface, allowing you to enjoy the deep gloss while the soft texture makes it comfortable to hold. The design is simple yet sophisticated, true to Akitani's style, with ingenious details throughout, such as the thin rim and the four-sided handle. Paper box
Diameter (including handle) 11.1cm × Diameter 8.5cm × Height 8.4cm Masao Akitani was born in Saitama in 1968. He studied under Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki starting in 1998, and after ten years of training, he built his own kiln in Bizen and became independent in 2008. He held his first kiln firing in 2009. He has been selected for the Tanabe Museum of Art "Tea Ceremony Forms" Exhibition and the Japan Kōgei Association Chugoku Branch Exhibition, and has received awards including the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition Prize and the Encouragement Prize.