Bizen guinomi

This Bizen sake cup is by the esteemed Bizen traditional craftsman Rokuro Nakamura, widely celebrated as a master of sake vessel creation. It is a highly rare piece crafted using the "tatara" technique, where clay—the same type used for making *hohin* teapots—is rolled into slabs and then assembled. The slab-like clay was wrapped around a cylindrical form and joined at the base and sides; its seams and the unique wrinkles created during the drying process give it a gentle, soft expression distinct from wheel-thrown pieces. While the overall form possesses the soft lines of handmade pottery, the finishing of the rim—the most vital part of any sake cup—and the precise carving of the foot give it an air reminiscent of a miniature tea bowl. The simple texture of the clay, which highlights its inherent natural quality, perfectly complements the gentle, soft form, further enhancing the piece's exceptional character. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 7.1cm × Diameter 7.0cm × Height 5.1cm Rokuro Nakamura worked as a company employee until the end of the war, but in 1945, he began an apprenticeship under Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige to refine his skills, eventually establishing his own Rokuro Kiln in 1961. He preferred to create sake vessels like *tokkuri* (sake bottles) using the potter's wheel, while utilizing the *tatara* technique for *hohin* teapots, kyusu teapots, and tea bowls. Known for a rustic and wild style, he placed great importance on the firing process typical of *yakishime* (unglazed) stoneware, and he was particularly meticulous about kiln loading, which determines the quality of the work. He was designated a traditional craftsman in 1986, the same year he received the Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Award, and in 1989, he was awarded the Order of the Blue Paulownia Leaves in the spring decorations. He passed away in April 2004.