Hello everyone, how are you doing?
Today, I would like to introduce a unique piece from one of our most recommended artists, Yoshiteru Kōriki.
This work is titled "Black Tokkuri (sake bottle) and Black Sakazuki (sake cup)," a style not seen in his previous works,
featuring a special finish where a massive amount of ash glaze (goma) is applied over a black clay base.
On the sake bottle, you can see thick, well-melted liquid ash that resembles paint—much like the ash found on the undersides of large plates placed atop ancient Bizen jars.
The sake cup is no less impressive than the bottle, possessing a powerful presence of its own;
inside the bowl, the gathered ash has become translucent, creating a landscape reminiscent of obsidian.
For Kōriki, who dislikes overly elegant works and finds comfort in the warmth of rustic, unpretentious, and unadorned aesthetics,
these pieces possess an unusually distinctive "splendor" and "ornamental flair."
In fact, these pieces were unusually fired twice,
which is said to be the reason for the black surface, as if the iron content within the clay had been drawn out.
Considering the intensity of the heat on the front of the bottle and inside the bowl of the cup,
one can certainly understand why a single firing would not have been enough.
The way the thick, paint-like ash on the bottle meanders along the uneven surface and the stones,
or the mystical landscape inside the bowl—as if the flying ash had been gathered and scooped up within a kiln at temperatures well over 1,000 degrees Celsius, a realm unreachable by humans—
makes these works a powerful reminder of the arduous nature of kiln firing and the mystery of fire itself.
It is a truly ambitious work characteristic of Kōriki-sensei, who continues to dedicate himself to research with every new firing.
With a storm of ash draped across the front, it is immediately clear that this is a unique piece, even among Kōriki’s work.
The back shows a blend of black and a clay tone the color of melted chocolate.
The deep yellow ash, as thick as paint, transforms into translucent black ash in places, offering a delightful visual experience.
The combination of yellow ash, reminiscent of flickering flames, and the rich chocolate tones is just like ancient Bizen pottery.
At the center of the ash, obsidian-like crystals have emerged, combining with the shape of the cup to create a view resembling a solar eclipse.
The underside shifts between chocolate and black, following the flow of the flames.
It has a quality so rich it feels as if it might melt to the touch.
(Yoshiteru Kōriki/Black Sake Ware)
Black Tokkuri size: 9.4cm dia. × 9.3cm dia. × 12.9cm H price: Sold
Black Sakazuki size: 8.4cm dia. × 8.1cm dia. × 4.4cm H price: Sold
For detailed images of the works, please inquire below.
Tel 0869-67-2210 Fax 0869-67-2220
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