Murasaki Shino Saké Cup by Suzuki Tomio

Description

Shino is a style of pottery which originated in Minō (central Japan) during the Momoyama era (1573 - 1603).  The glaze is a simple mixture of ground feldspar and water, easily distinguished by its abundant pinholes and crackles.  As a coloring agent, potters add a rare iron-rich sediment, called onita in Japanese, which is found in certain riverbeds around the region.

Hailing from Kyoto's Yawata District, Suzuki Tomio has reinvigorated the world of shino with his provocative clay creations of tactile richness and creative energy.  This saké cup is done in his rendition of murasaki (purple) shino.  It came from the kiln enrobed in a soothing pastel hue and is accented with crackled feldspar and fluid brushed details.

Sized a bit larger than most at 3.3" (8.5cm), this piece fits nicely in the hand.

Suzuki Tomio's shino pottery is held in private collections around the world and, in 2011, was acquired by the Philadelphia Museum of Art for display in their East Asian Art collection.

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