Polychrome Bizen Sake Cup

This is a new colored Bizen sake cup by Anjin Abe, an artist who possesses deep insight and an aesthetic sense regarding ancient pottery, and who creates one-of-a-kind works through his unique research and firing techniques. Set against a gold background reminiscent of a folding screen painting, the piece features an elegantly free-spirited carving of plants. The melted and fired-on gold harmonizes with the well-fired Bizen clay surface, transforming the cup into a canvas that only Anjin-sensei, both a painter and a ceramic artist, could master. This painting in the palm of your hand is framed by a surface with a profound, substantial firing that rivals that of ancient Bizen, while the *goma* (ash glaze) drip with crackling in the interior can truly be called paint created by fire. Signed paulownia box to follow (please allow some time for delivery).
Diameter 6.6cm × Diameter 6.1cm × Height 6.6cm Anjin Abe was originally a Western-style painter. While he collected ceramics as a hobby, he felt a lack of satisfaction with contemporary Bizen ware, and began pottery in 1972 to create pieces that met 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. He bases his ceramic production on Momoyama-period ancient Bizen and is particular about his firing techniques. Furthermore, he presents works that combine various materials and techniques such as ceramics, lacquer, oil painting, and bronze (mixed media), engaging in diverse expressive activities. He actively holds solo exhibitions both in Japan and overseas, including in Tokyo, Osaka, New York, and Paris.