Isezaki Jun (伊勢崎淳), Japanese, b. 1936

A Bizen “Bō-no-saki” Mizusashi (備前 棒の先 水指)

Showa Era (1926-1989), Heisei Era (1989-2019) or Reiwa Era (2019-present)

About the work

This Bizen ware mizusashi (water jar) by Isezaki Jun is a powerful example of the artist’s mastery of traditional wood-fired ceramics. The vessel has a compact cylindrical form with gently tapering walls and a slightly rounded rim, creating a quiet yet commanding presence appropriate for the tea ceremony. Its proportions are carefully balanced, allowing the form to appear both sturdy and refined.

The surface reveals the complex natural effects produced during prolonged wood firing. Rich reddish tones of Bizen clay transition into deep charcoal and blackened areas where flame and ash accumulated in the kiln. Subtle gradients of color and areas of natural ash glazing create a dynamic surface that shifts between warm iron-red and smoky black. The unglazed clay body retains a tactile, earthy quality, emphasizing the raw beauty of the material and the unpredictability of the firing process.

The piece is accompanied by its original signed wooden storage box (tomobako) and cloth.

Dimensions

16cm(h) x 16.5cm(w) x 16.7cm(d)

Footnote

Isezaki Jun (b. 1936) is the second son of Isezaki Yozan, a master craftsman of fine Bizen work. Trained from childhood alongside his brother Mitsuru, Jun began exhibiting in the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition in 1961 and became a full member of the Japan Kogei Association in 1966. After establishing his own kiln in 1967, he expanded his artistic range to include large-scale ceramic reliefs for public spaces such as the Prime Minister’s residence and Kurashiki Notre Dame Memorial Hall. Renowned for his mastery of kiln variation (yohen) and fire-mark techniques, he later developed new sculptural approaches combining traditional Bizen with black glazes. In 2004, he was designated a Living National Treasure, only the fifth Bizen potter to receive this honor.