Colored Bizen Sake Cup

This is a newly fired, painted Bizen sake cup by Anjin Abe, an artist with profound insight into and an aesthetic sense for antique pottery, who creates one-of-a-kind works through his original research and firing techniques. It features a powerful composition with a majestic Mt. Fuji set against a golden painted background. The colors in this piece are exceptionally vivid; while a traditional matte gold has been chosen for the background, a much brighter, shimmering gold has been used for the bordering, adding a dense sense of volume to the work. Because these two types of gold serve as the background, the hues of the "Red Fuji" are further accentuated, and the snowy peak in particular is wonderful, especially when combined with the frothy-looking finish. This is complemented by the rich, oil-painting-like *goma* (ash glaze) that is the hallmark of Anjin-sensei, creating a world where art and ceramics are beautifully fused. Signed wooden box to follow (please allow some time for shipping).
Diameter 6.8cm × Diameter 6.1cm × Height 6.4cm Anjin Abe was originally a Western-style painter. While he collected ceramics as a hobby, he felt a lack of depth in contemporary Bizen ware and began practicing pottery in 1972 to create pieces that satisfied 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 is centered on the aesthetic of Momoyama-period antique Bizen, and he is deeply committed to his firing techniques. He also explores diverse forms of expression, presenting works that combine various materials and techniques such as ceramics, lacquer, oil painting, and bronze (mixed media). He holds solo exhibitions energetically both in Japan and abroad, including in Tokyo, Osaka, New York, and Paris.