Bizen Guinomi

This is a newly kiln-fired Bizen sake cup by Koichiro Isezaki, who was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and is breathing new life into the Bizen ware world with his exceptional sense and masterful sculpting ability. It is crafted using the "kurinuki" (hollowing out) technique, where the form is carved from a solid block of clay using a spatula, giving it a unique presence distinct from the rotational symmetry of wheel-thrown pottery. The kurinuki technique leaves spatula marks throughout the interior, creating interesting variations in the movement of the clay. The intense firing, characterized by a heavy "yellow sesame" (kigoma) glaze, is captivating; the golden sesame ash, born from 100% pine wood firing, forms amber-like glaze drips that are truly beautiful. As a piece fired in a high-temperature area of the kiln, the exterior features scenery created by natural glaze dripping from the kiln walls, with opaque white glass-like kiln transformations providing an interesting accent within the golden flow of sesame ash. Signed wooden box to be provided later
Diameter 8.1cm x 7.8cm x Height 6.5cm Koichiro Isezaki was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki. The Isezaki family is a prestigious Bizen ware lineage, with his grandfather being the Intangible Cultural Property holder Yozan Isezaki and his uncle the Intangible Cultural Property holder Mitsuru Isezaki; he himself aspired to become a potter from an early age. After graduating from the Sculpture Department of Tokyo Zokei University in 1994, he studied abroad in the United States. He studied pottery for about two years under Jeff Shapiro, a potter based in New York City, which greatly broadened his perspective on art and ceramics. After returning to Japan in 2000, he trained under the guidance of his father alongside his father's apprentices. In 2002, he submitted work to the Tanabe Museum of Art Tea Ceremony Exhibition and was selected for the first time.