Inbe Guinomi

This is an Ibe sake cup by the master craftsman Mitsuru Isezaki, who loved Bizen ware and made immense contributions to Bizen. 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 high-grade paddy clay—this piece appears quite simple at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, one can see rich, earthy tones of shiso-red and orange, further refined by a light, gold-colored glaze that enhances the exceptional texture of the clay. The simple *goma* (sesame ash) and *sangiri* (kiln-effect) finish is remarkably tasteful, embodying the classic, quintessential aesthetic of Bizen ware. The form is a standard design among Master Mitsuru’s sake cups, featuring a slightly tapered shoulder and a flared rim, making it simple and easy to use. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 6.6cm x Diameter 6.4cm x Height 6.1cm Master Mitsuru Isezaki was born in 1934 as the eldest son of the intangible cultural property holder Yozan Isezaki. He learned pottery from his father from a young age and majored in sculpture at the Okayama University Special Art Course. As an authentic practitioner of tea ceramics, he pursued Momoyama-style forms, clay texture, and firing techniques. He distinguished between the use of *noborigama* (climbing kilns) and medieval-style *anagama* (tunnel kilns) depending on the work, and insisted on firing exclusively with split pine wood, never using electric or gas kilns. He became a regular member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1964 and received the Toyo Kaneshige Award 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 certified as a Prefectural Important Intangible Cultural Property holder. He passed away in August 2011 at the age of 77.
Awards: Numerous, including the Toyo Kaneshige Award, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Art and Culture Merit Award, and the Grand Prize at the Tea Ceremony Form Exhibition / Invited exhibitor at the Prefectural Exhibition