Kohiki Sake Cup

This is a new Kohiki sake cup by Toru Ichikawa, who made a striking debut after studying under Ryuichi Kakurezaki. While one is immediately drawn to its inventive, avant-garde design, holding it in your hands reveals the immense passion he pours into expressing the beauty of the clay itself. Creating such beautiful curves and edges requires a deep understanding of the material and an exhaustive amount of time and effort in the finishing process; the piece is born from a process of single-mindedly forging the clay, much like a swordsmith. Beyond the white slip applied to the entire vessel, the dynamic splash of white glaze creates a contrast between two shades of white, resulting in a modern take on Kohiki that is quintessentially Ichikawa. By adjusting the tones of the clay body and the splattered iron glaze to harmonize into a bright brown, he enhances the translucent quality of the white slip, creating a cool and refreshing landscape.

See the blog post for Toru Ichikawa's new works Signed paulownia box (shiho-zan)
Diameter 6.2cm x Diameter 5.7cm x Height 6.0cm Toru Ichikawa was born in Tokyo. He began studying under Ryuichi Kakurezaki in June 2011 and established his own studio in Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture, in January 2015.