Colored Bizen Sake Cup

This is a painted Bizen sake cup by Anjin Abe, an artist who possesses profound insight into and a refined aesthetic sense for antique ceramics, creating one-of-a-kind works through his original research and firing techniques. A highlight of this piece is its striking painted design, featuring a dragon carved into Mount Fuji. The jewel gripped powerfully by the dragon and the sun visible beyond Mount Fuji are arranged to form a pair. The *goma* (ash glaze) flowing into the interior of the cup appears to spill from Mount Fuji when viewed from both the front and back, demonstrating that this work is consciously designed as a "three-dimensional" object. Signed wooden box (shiho-san, double box) included
Diameter 6.4cm × Diameter 5.7cm × Height 5.9cm Anjin Abe was originally a Western-style painter. He began collecting pottery as a hobby, but feeling dissatisfied with contemporary Bizen ware, he started pottery in 1972 to create works that satisfied his own standards. He frequently creates water jars, flower vases, flattened jars, bowls, sake bottles, and sake cups. All are wheel-thrown and finished with a spatula. His pottery is rooted in the aesthetics of Momoyama-period antique Bizen, with a particular focus on firing techniques. He also engages in diverse expressive activities, presenting works (mixed media) that combine various materials and techniques such as ceramics, lacquer, oil painting, and bronze. He holds solo exhibitions energetically both in Japan and internationally, including in Tokyo, Osaka, New York, and Paris.