Bizen Guinomi Square

This is a freshly kiln-fired Bizen square sake cup by Koichiro Isezaki, who was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and has breathed new life into the world of Bizen pottery with his rare sense of style and masterful sculptural ability. This piece is from the artist's signature series of square sake cups, which are characterized by their sharp, pared-down clay edges. Its unique and unparalleled form makes it perfect for enjoying not only Japanese sake but also Western spirits. The piece features a beautiful, generous coating of yellow sesame glaze derived from 100% pine wood firing, with the firing and the form perfectly matched as the glaze slides gracefully across the pared surfaces. Each side offers a different, fascinating landscape, including "shell marks" left behind from the shells used to prevent the pottery from fusing during firing, and "ishi-haze" (stone explosions) that resemble meteorites fallen in a desert. Signed wooden box to be provided later (please allow some time for shipping).
Diameter 4.7cm x 4.6cm x Height 7.6cm Koichiro Isezaki was born the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki. The Isezaki family is a prestigious name in Bizen pottery, with his grandfather being the Intangible Cultural Property holder Yozan Isezaki, and his uncle being the Intangible Cultural Property holder Mitsuru Isezaki; Koichiro himself aspired to pottery from an early age. After graduating from the Sculpture Department of Tokyo Zokei University in 1994, he studied abroad in the United States. He learned pottery for about two years under Jeff Shapiro, a ceramic artist living in New York City, which greatly broadened his perspective on art and pottery. After returning to Japan in 2000, he worked and trained under his father alongside his father's other disciples. In 2002, he exhibited for the first time at the Tanabe Art Museum Tea Ceremony Exhibition and was selected for the prize.