Platinum-glazed sake cup

This platinum-glazed sake cup is by Toru Ichikawa, who made a striking debut after studying under Ryuichi Kakurezaki. While one is initially drawn to the highly original, avant-garde design, holding it in your hands reveals the immense passion he pours into expressing the beauty of the clay itself. Creating these beautiful curves and edges requires a deep understanding of the clay’s properties, followed by a staggering amount of time and meticulous labor—a piece born from a process of relentlessly forging the earth, much like a swordsmith. This approach gives rise to rough, fierce cracks and textures on the surface that human hands could never intentionally replicate, creating a magnificent harmony with the color and volume of the glazes, each specifically formulated for the character of the clay. He skillfully maneuvers the challenging platinum glaze, adjusting it to fire at the perfect level of brilliance for a sake cup. Signed wooden box (shiho-san) included
Diameter 5.7cm × Diameter 5.3cm × Height 7.4cm Toru Ichikawa was born in Tokyo. He began his apprenticeship under Ryuichi Kakurezaki in June 2011 and established his own studio in Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture, in January 2015.