Kuro Teapot

This is a brand new black kyusu (teapot) fresh from the kiln by Masao Akitani, an artist who trained under Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and creates works brimming with his own unique originality while embracing a fresh spirit. It is crafted using the black Bizen technique inherited from his mentor, Jun Isezaki, resulting in a beautiful black hue that is both deeply lustrous and warm. The clay used is black soil from Osafune Iso-ue, famous for sword making, which is dissolved and applied to the surface to create a stunning black texture. Fired in the kiln with the lid placed on the body, the piece was bathed in a "rain of flames," causing the thick deposits of *goma* (ash glaze) running from the lid to the shoulder to react with the black, partially turning a green color. The entire piece is meticulously decorated with combed patterns (*kushime*), which provide a sense of dynamic expansion when viewed as a sphere, while also adding a subtle gradation to the black when appreciated as a black-toned work. The lid features a custom stopper designed by Akitani, which serves to prevent the lid from falling off. No box included
Diameter 18.2cm including handle and spout × body diameter 12.7cm × height 10.8cm including lid Masao Akitani was born in Saitama in 1968. He began his apprenticeship under Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki in 1998, and after ten years of training, he built his own kiln in Bizen and became independent in 2008. He held his first kiln opening in 2009. His works have been selected for the Tanabe Museum of Art’s "Tea Ceremony Sculpture Exhibition" and the Japan Kōgei Association Chugoku Branch Exhibition, and he has received awards including the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition Prize and the Encouragement Award.