{"product_id":"p7729","title":"Bizen sake cup","description":"This Bizen sake cup is an earlier work by Koichiro Isezaki, who was born as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and has brought a breath of fresh air to the world of Bizen ware with his exceptional sense and masterful sculpting ability.\u003cbr\u003e\nThe piece comes with a biography covering his career up to 2012, confirming it was created around that time.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIt is a flat cup featuring the intense kiln-alteration (yohen) characteristic of Koichiro’s work, with natural ash glaze covering approximately 90% of the surface area.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe piece was fired while placed atop another work like a hat; while this is a traditional firing method, Koichiro’s unique approach makes it feel remarkably fresh.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nBecause it was placed in a high-temperature area of the kiln—often used for firing jars—in an inverted position, it received a generous coating of natural glaze that covers the entire piece. Its shape is intriguing, resembling a sedge hat shedding falling rain.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe abundant sesame (goma) glaze is not confined to the exterior but spills into the interior, clustering around the shell used to prevent fusion. This creates both a shell mark and an unglazed area (hima), forming a mysterious void that looks like butterfly wings.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFurthermore, crystals of natural glaze, likely dropped from the kiln wall, have adhered to the rim, hardening like crystals to create a fascinating effect.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThis item is in unused condition, having been carefully stored since its original purchase.\u003cbr\u003e\n\nSigned wooden box (shihozan)\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 10.3cm x 9.8cm x Height 4.7cm\u003cbr\u003e\n\nKoichiro Isezaki was born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture, in 1974 as the eldest son of Jun Isezaki.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAfter graduating from the Sculpture Department at Tokyo Zokei University in 1994, he studied abroad in the United States.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe later apprenticed under Jeff Shapiro, a potter living in New York and a former student of his father, in 1998.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAfter studying pottery for about two years, he returned to Japan and, starting in 2000, established his independence as a potter under his father, Jun Isezaki.","brand":"伊勢崎晃一朗","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618206109793,"sku":"7729","price":16500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/7729.jpg?v=1790233167","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p7729","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}