{"product_id":"p6263","title":"Bizen tea cup","description":"This is a brand-new Bizen tea cup, fresh from the kiln by Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki, who continues to lead the Bizen pottery world with his inexhaustible creativity.\u003cbr\u003e\nThis is his latest work, removed from the kiln in May 2021.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFired in an anagama (tunnel kiln) for about ten days, this piece showcases the signature Isezaki Bizen finish, featuring a beautiful interplay of goma (ash glaze), hidasuki (fire-cord markings), ito-goma (thread-like ash), and gradients of white clay and scarlet.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFor this piece, the artist used a coarse, sandy clay, allowing individual grains to peek through the scarlet color gradations.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nStraw was wrapped diagonally around the cup, creating a hidasuki pattern that encircles the piece; the way the straw patterns flow is so mesmerizing that you may find yourself losing track of time as you trace them with your eyes.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFurthermore, as the straw burned, it fused with the natural glaze, transforming into what is known as ito-goma, preserving the delicate impressions of the straw.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nInside the cup, fine ash carried by the hot air of the anagama has settled like powdery snow in tiny, delicate flecks.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWhile labeled as a tea cup on the box, it can of course also be used as a beer mug.\n\nOriginal signed box (shiho-zan) included\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 7.4cm x 7.4cm x Height 9.2cm\n\nJun Isezaki was born as the second son of Yozan Isezaki, a master known for his decorative ceramic work. He learned pottery from a young age and embarked on his professional career after graduating from the Special Art Course at Okayama University in 1959.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHis body of work is vast, spanning from traditional vessels, plates, and tea ceremony utensils to ceramic walls and sculptural objects.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe places great importance on both shaping and firing, developing a distinctive style that captures a contemporary sensibility while maximizing the unique characteristics of his materials and various kilns (anagama, climbing kilns, and electric kilns).\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe is also highly regarded as a leading relief artist and has presented numerous works in this field.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1966, he was certified as a regular member of the Japan Kōgei Association, and he served as a special art instructor at Okayama University for nine years starting in 1978.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1998, he and his brother, Mitsuru, were both designated as Holders of Okayama Prefectural Important Intangible Cultural Properties. That same year, he became the Secretary General of the Chugoku Branch of the Japan Kōgei Association.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn July 2004, he was designated as a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property by the Japanese government.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAwards: Recipient of the Kaneshige Toyo Award, the Okayama Prefectural Cultural Encouragement Award, the Sanyo Shimbun Award, the Excellence Award at the Tea Ceremony Arts Exhibition, among many others \/ Prefectural Exhibition Judge","brand":"伊勢崎 淳","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618714636385,"sku":"6263","price":40000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/6263.jpg?v=1790241005","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p6263","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}