ISHIDA Kazuya Small Bizen Porcelain Cup

Description

From Bizen, the stronghold of Japan’s unglazed stoneware (yakishime, 焼締め), comes this surprising piece made from local porcelain by Ishida Kazuya. Rather than refining the material, he preserves its natural structure, with fine irregularities and subtle iron-rich accents.

Each cup is hand-formed and unique in its tonal variation — this smaller version displays a warm white tone with a soft yellowish-pink shimmer. Pleasantly textured on the outside, glazed on the inside, and fired in a gas kiln, it combines a sense of rawness with refined craftsmanship.

Capacity: ca. 100 – 150 ml

ISHIDA KAZUYA

Spirals and Waves: A Portrait of Nature in the Bizen Style

Ishida Kazuya comes from a family of potters in Bizen. Bizen is one of Japan’s most important ceramic regions and is renowned for its unglazed, high-fired pottery.

For four years, Ishida Kazuya studied under Isezaki Jun, Bizen’s current Living National Treasure. His experience in the United Kingdom, where he worked with slip and slipware techniques, has also had a strong influence on his work. Ishida Kazuya developed a distinctive interpretation of the Bizen style, which he calls Rahō (螺法). The name is derived from spiral-shaped shells.

Indeed, his creations are deeply inspired by nature. Ishida-san is fascinated by the dynamic forms and movements found in ancient rocks and spiralling seashells, and he seeks to capture these patterns in his work. Firing in a traditional noborigama or anagama kiln adds further layers of complexity to each piece through the effects of flame and the natural deposition of wood ash.