Painted Bizen Sake Cup

This is a new colored Bizen sake cup by Anjin Abe, an artist possessing deep insight into and an aesthetic sense for antique pottery, who creates one-of-a-kind works through his original research and firing techniques. A bold floral pattern, combining cobalt blue and emerald green with interwoven gold, blooms brilliantly in the center of the vessel. Although the area of coloration is modest, with red applied only around the lower body, it creates a highly impressive composition against the shiso-colored surface. Thick, well-melted sesame glaze flows into the interior, providing an unwavering foundation that supports the infinitely shifting colored composition from the base. Signed wooden box to follow (please allow some time for delivery)
Diameter 6.3cm × Diameter 5.9cm × Height 6.2cm Anjin Abe was originally a Western-style painter. He collected pottery as a hobby but, finding contemporary Bizen ware unsatisfying, he began his own pottery practice 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 of which are wheel-thrown and finished with a spatula. His pottery-making is grounded in the antique Bizen ware of the Momoyama period, with a meticulous focus on firing. He is also engaged in diverse creative 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 abroad, including in Tokyo, Osaka, New York, and Paris.