Bizen Guinomi

This is a newly fired Bizen sake cup by Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki, an artist who continues to lead the Bizen pottery world with an inexhaustible well of creativity. This piece was fired in the Anagama kiln at Koyayama, which he reconstructed alongside his father, Yozan, and his brother, Mitsuru, and it beautifully captures the distinctive characteristics of Anagama firing. The iron content in the clay and the natural ash glaze have melted together to create a mysterious effect, making the entire piece appear as if it has been coated in glass. The kiln transformations (yohen) produce black and ochre accents throughout, which, combined with the glass-like texture, give the appearance of having been finished with a caramel glaze, despite being unglazed Bizen ware. The fascination of this vitreous transformation does not end there; it also captures diverse kiln effects like *itogoma* (thread-like sesame patterns) and *tobigoma* (scattered sesame spots) from the straw wrapped around the piece, preserving them within the glass-like finish much like specimens on a microscope slide. The base of the cup features the artist's signature *uchimon* (beaten pattern) technique, where engraved lines are combined with a gentle deformation into a square shape, resulting in a novel and intriguing design. Signed wooden box (shiho-zan) included
Diameter 7.2cm x 6.6cm x Height 7.2cm Jun Isezaki was born as the second son of Yozan Isezaki, a master of ceramic sculpture. After learning pottery from a young age and graduating from the Special Art Course at Okayama University in 1959, he dedicated himself to the path of ceramics. His work spans a wide range, from traditional vases, plates, and tea ceremony wares to ceramic walls and abstract sculptural objects. He places great emphasis on both the forming and firing processes. His style is characterized by a modern sensibility that leverages the unique qualities of his materials and kilns (Anagama, Noborigama, and electric kilns). Furthermore, he is widely recognized as a leading artist in the field of ceramic reliefs. He became a regular member of the Japan Kogei Association in 1966 and served as a special art instructor at Okayama University for nine years starting in 1978. In 1998, he and his brother Mitsuru were both designated as Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Cultural Property Holders, and in the same year, he became the Secretary General of the Chugoku Branch of the Japan Kogei Association. In July 2004, he was designated as a Living National Treasure (Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property).
Awards: Kaneshige Toyo Prize, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award, Sanyo Shimbun Prize, Excellence Award at the Tea Ceremony Modeling Exhibition, and many others / Served as a judge for prefectural exhibitions