Bizen Beerglass

This is a newly fired Bizen beer mug by Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki, an artist who continues to lead the Bizen pottery world with an inexhaustible creative spirit. This latest work was fired in the Anagama kiln at Koya-san, which he restored alongside his father, Yozan, and his brother, Mitsuru. It features the signature Isezaki Bizen finish, with a beautiful blend of sesame glaze (goma), fire cord (hidasuki), and gradients of white clay and scarlet. The straw wrapped diagonally around the mug creates a pattern of fire cord that circles the entire piece, drawing the eye to follow its flow until one loses track of time. As the straw burned, it fused with the natural ash glaze, transforming into what is known as "ito-goma" (thread-like sesame glaze) while retaining the shape of the straw. Inside, the ito-goma follows the path of the straw, tracing a sharp curve as it cascades into the bottom of the cup, looking as if a bolt of lightning has struck within. While labeled as a beer mug on the box, it can, of course, also be used as a teacup. Original signed box (shiho-san) included
Diameter 8.2cm x 7.4cm x Height 9.0cm Jun Isezaki was born the second son of Yozan Isezaki, a master of ceramic sculpture. He began learning pottery at a young age and embarked on his professional career after graduating from the Special Fine Arts Course at Okayama University in 1959. His body of work is vast, spanning from traditional vessels such as flower vases, plates, and tea ceremony ceramics to sculptural objects and ceramic wall art. In his creative process, he places great importance on both form and firing, utilizing the unique characteristics of his materials and kilns (Anagama, Noborigama, and electric kilns) to develop a style infused with a modern sensibility. He is also recognized as a leading creator of ceramic reliefs and has unveiled numerous works in this field. 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 Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Cultural Properties, and that same year, he became the Secretary-General of the Chugoku Branch of the Japan Kōgei Association. In July 2004, he was designated as a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property by the Japanese government.
Awards: Numerous honors including the Kaneshige Toyo Award, the Okayama Prefecture Cultural Encouragement Award, the Sanyo Shimbun Award, and the Excellence Award at the Tea Ceremony Sculpture Exhibition; has served as a juror for the Prefectural Art Exhibition.