Vermilion clay sake cup with painted decoration

This is a new vermilion-slip sake cup by Toru Ichikawa, who made a striking debut after studying under Ryuichi Kakurezaki. While one is immediately drawn to its highly original, avant-garde design, holding it in your hands reveals the immense passion poured into expressing the beauty of the clay itself. Creating these beautiful curves and edges requires a deep understanding of the clay's properties, demanding an extraordinary amount of time and meticulous effort to finish—a work born from forging the clay with single-minded intensity, much like a master swordsmith. Entitled "Shudei-sai" (Vermilion-slip), this masterpiece features black and white glazes dancing across a backdrop of vibrant vermilion clay. It brilliantly incorporates the three colors of red, black, and white—long beloved by the Japanese—into an avant-garde form.

View the blog post for Toru Ichikawa's new works Signed wooden box to follow (please allow some time for delivery)
Diameter 5.1cm x Diameter 4.9cm x Height 6.5cm Toru Ichikawa was born in Tokyo. He began his apprenticeship under Ryuichi Kakurezaki in June 2011 and established his own studio in Tamano, Okayama Prefecture, in January 2015.