Isezaki Jun 伊勢崎淳 b. 1936

We are thrilled to announce that a stunning Hidasuki Bizen jar crafted by the renowned artist Isezaki Jun has found its permanent place within the esteemed collections of the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. This remarkable piece of art was exhibited earlier this year during our March exhibition "Intangible Heritage", which featured the extraordinary works of Living National Treasures. We are delighted at the opportunity this offers to visitors who will be able to experience the beauty and craftsmanship of Bizen ware by visiting the museum, which proudly calls the University of Oregon its home.

The Japanese Yakimono tea bowl provides a contemplative and utilitarian anchor for the innately meditative Japanese tea ceremony. Not only is the optical quality of chawan an essential part of its meditative identity, but so are its physical properties. In other words, the chawan holds value in characteristics that lie beyond the visual relationship between the beholder and the tea bowl’s surface. For example, particular attention may be paid to the weight of the bowl. Its mass may emphasize a more ethereal and gentle character, or a powerful and robust quality. The temperature of the clay’s glazed surface at first touch, and subsequently over time, is also a core component of the appreciation of a tea bowl. See our website for a range of yakimono pottery, tea ware, and more by Japan's master ceramic artists.

Learn about Japan's ceramic living national treasures: read the essay by Daniel McOwan, Japanese art specialist & curator. The essay was published on the occasion of our March exhibition "Intangible Heritage: The Art of Japan's Living National Treasures", coinciding with the annual celebration of asian art: Asia Week New York.