Artist: Jun Isezaki (b. 1936) — Living National Treasure (Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property, Bizen ware) Title: Bizen Ware Sake Bottle (Tokkuri) — Wood-Fired Unglazed Stoneware with Natural Kiln-Transformation (Yohen), with Original Signed Box This is a Bizen ware sake bottle (tokkuri) by Jun Isezaki, one of Japan's most distinguished ceramic artists and a designated Living National Treasure for Bizen ware. Hand-thrown in unglazed, wood-fired stoneware, it displays the warm russet-to-deep-brown fire coloring and ash-kissed surface that make Bizen ware so treasured by connoisseurs. It is signed by the artist and comes complete with its original signed wooden box (tomobako). About the Artist — Jun Isezaki Born in 1936 in Inbe, Bizen (Okayama), the historic heart of Bizen ware, Jun Isezaki was the second son of the potter Isezaki Yozan and trained alongside his brother, the ceramic artist Isezaki Mitsu. In 2004 he became only the fifth person ever designated a Living National Treasure for Bizen ware. He is celebrated both for his deep scholarship of tradition — famously helping to revive a medieval semi-subterranean anagama kiln — and for a strikingly modern, sculptural sensibility informed by his exchanges with artists such as Isamu Noguchi. His works are held in public collections and architectural ceramic murals including the Japanese Prime Minister's Official Residence, and he has exhibited internationally, including at the National Museum of Ceramics in France. A recipient of the Kaneshige Toyo Prize among many honors, he is regarded as one of the great masters of Japanese ceramics. About Bizen Ware Bizen ware is one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns, with a history approaching a thousand years. It uses no glaze at all: pieces are fired for up to two weeks in a wood-burning kiln, and all of their beauty arises from the interaction of iron-rich clay, flame, and falling ash. The unpredictable results — known as yohen ("kiln transformation") — produce effects such as sangiri, goma (sesame-seed ash), and flowing scarlet fire-color. Since the Momoyama period, Bizen tea and sake wares have been beloved as supreme expressions of the wabi-sabi aesthetic. About This Piece This tokkuri shows the very qualities collectors prize in Bizen: a rich gradation of earth tones from warm amber at the shoulder to deep, smoky brown below, subtle ash effects across the surface, and the honest trace of the potter's wheel. The full, well-balanced bottle form sits beautifully in the hand. Bizen is especially esteemed for sake vessels, as the fine texture of the fired clay is said to enhance the taste of sake — making this both a superb collector's piece and a vessel to be enjoyed in use. Condition In wonderful condition with no chips, cracks, scratches, or damage. A beautiful piece. Please review all photos, which form part of the description. Presentation Complete with its original signed tomobako, essential to the value of a work by a Living National Treasure and confirming its authenticity — a museum-quality piece for the serious collector and an exceptional gift. Shipping from Japan with tracking number and insurance. Fast dispatch via FedEx or DHL. Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges and are the buyer's responsibility. These are normally collected by the delivering carrier or on pickup — please do not confuse them with additional shipping charges.