Bizen sake cup

This is a sake cup by Fumio Kawabata, who transitioned from a career as a graphic designer to create highly original works that highlight the raw character of the clay itself. The diagonal line patterns, created using a press-mold technique, serve as a lovely accent to the piece. Despite its generous proportions, the meticulous attention to detail characteristic of Kawabata is evident throughout. The interior, in particular, has been carefully carved to beautifully showcase the rustic texture of the clay. This is a sake cup by Fumio Kawabata, who transitioned from a career as a graphic designer to create highly original works that highlight the raw character of the clay itself. The diagonal line patterns, created using a press-mold technique, serve as a lovely accent to the piece. Despite its generous proportions, the meticulous attention to detail characteristic of Kawabata is evident throughout. The interior, in particular, has been carefully carved to beautifully showcase the rustic texture of the clay. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
D 7.1cm × D 6.9cm × H 6.6cm Fumio Kawabata turned to pottery after being captivated by the earthy quality of Bizen ware he encountered at a gallery in Tokyo while working as a graphic designer. In 1975, he began an apprenticeship that lasted over seven years under the master potter Rie-emon Kaneshige, from one of the six prestigious Bizen kiln families. Under his master’s generous guidance, he was able to study all aspects of ceramics, techniques, and firing. In 1979, while still in training, he displayed his exceptional talent by having his work selected for the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, and he subsequently established his own kiln in Ibe Kogadani. His first firing after becoming independent also resulted in a selection for the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, and in 1986, he was certified as a regular member of the Japan Kōgei Association. He creates sculptural works using hand-building and coiling techniques. He breathed new life into the world of Bizen ware with his "Open Vessel" series, which features hollowed-out bodies. In 1990, he received the Grand Prize at the Tea Ceremony Exhibition.