ISEZAKI JUN (LIVING NATIONAL TREASURE): A MAGNIFICENT NATURAL IRON- AND ASH-COLORED BIZEN WARE VASE

拍品描述

ISEZAKI JUN (LIVING NATIONAL TREASURE): A MAGNIFICENT NATURAL IRON- AND ASH-COLORED BIZEN WARE VASE By Isezaki Jun (b. 1936), signed by the artist Japan, Heisei period (1989-2019) Superbly potted, the ovoid body, accented with the subtle concentric ridges, gently curving toward the flat base and gracefully narrowing to a circular mouth with a beveled rim. The unglazed surface displaying an attractive interplay of iron-red, deep brown, and kiln-ash tones, reflecting the complex chemical interactions that occur during high-temperature wood firing and revealing the variegated textures and chromatic qualities prized in ancient Bizen ware. The underside incised with the artist’s signature. HEIGHT 31.5 cm, DIAMETER 22.3 cm With the original wood storage box (tomobako), signed and sealed by the artist. Isezaki Jun (b. 1936) was born into a family with deep roots in Bizen ceramics, as the second son of ceramic artist Isezaki Yozan (1902–1961). Immersed from an early age in the traditions and techniques of Bizen ware, he developed a profound understanding of clay, fire, and form. After graduating from Okayama University in 1959, he returned to the family craft, apprenticing under his father and, following his passing in 1961, collaborating with his brother Isezaki Mitsuru (1934-2011) to preserve and advance the inherited legacy. That same year, they restored Koyasan, a medieval-style semi-underground anagama kiln, enabling the production of tea bowls that embodied the timeless aesthetic of Bizen ceramics, continuing techniques and philosophies that have defined the tradition since the twelfth century. Isezaki Jun became a full member of the Japan Kogei Association in 1966 and joined the faculty at Okayama University in 1978, influencing a new generation of ceramic artists. His mastery of Bizen ware earned the Kaneshige Toyo Prize in 1981, and in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to Japanese cultural heritage, he was designated a Living National Treasure in 2004, the highest honor for practitioners of traditional arts. His works are held in major collections worldwide, including the British Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Musée Cernuschi. Museum comparison: Compare a related black-glazed Bizen ware ‘Man Nen’ (Ten Thousand Years) vase, by Isezaki Jun, Heisei period, 2007, 25.7 cm high, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, object number 2017.166.2.

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