Platinum-Glazed Sake Cup "Suzaku" Hikari

This is a new platinum-glazed sake cup, "Suzaku" (Vermilion Bird) - Kii, by Toru Ichikawa, who made a striking debut after studying under Ryuichi Kakurezaki. It is an exceptionally inventive piece, characteristic of Ichikawa-sensei, who gives form to his ceaseless flow of ideas through the supreme medium of clay. This work belongs to his new "Kagutsuchi" series of sake cups, a bold, latest creation inspired by "Kagutsuchi," the god of fire in Japanese mythology. As if recreating the myth of Kagutsuchi, who is said to have been born while scorching the body of his mother, the goddess Izanami, it features intense kairagi (plum-blossom crackle) glaze that appears to be burnt to the limit by maximizing the shrinkage rate. Since the fire god is also worshipped as the god of smithing, I believe this work embodies Ichikawa-sensei's pride in the act of ceramic art—creating objects through fire. Furthermore, this piece is given the alternate name "Suzaku" by combining it with his Hagakure crimson glaze, with the crimson glaze serving as an intense accent amidst the silvery white. It is fascinating to see several scales within the silver that have transformed into gold. When held in the hand, it is remarkably substantial and possesses a powerful presence; it is as if the artist's overflowing ideas are pulsating, having taken form in clay. Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
Diameter 8.8cm × Diameter 8.4cm × Height 6.7cm Toru Ichikawa was born in Tokyo. He began studying under Ryuichi Kakurezaki in June 2011 and became independent in Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture, in January 2015.