Bizen Black Guinomi

This is a newly fired Bizen black sake cup by Masao Akiya, an artist who studied under Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and creates works brimming with unique originality within a new spirit. The piece is made by mixing a trace amount of cobalt into iron-rich clay—the same type used in forging swords—to achieve a black color. When a generous amount of hot "sesame" ash glaze lands on this black surface, it fires into a vivid cobalt blue. The entire rim features this vibrant cobalt blue, which will glitter even more brilliantly when wet during use.

View blog post for this sake cup Signed box to be provided later (please allow some time for shipping)
Diameter 6.7cm × Diameter 6.5cm × Height 6.9cm Masao Akiya was born in Saitama in 1968. He studied under Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki starting in 1998, and after ten years of training, he built his own kiln in Bizen and became independent in 2008. He held his first kiln opening in 2009. His works have been selected for the Tanabe Museum of Art’s "Tea Ceremony Modeling Exhibition" and the Japan Kōgei Association Chugoku Branch Exhibition, and he has received awards including the Prefectural Exhibition Prize and the Encouragement Prize at the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition.