Vermilion Clay Platinum-Decorated Spouted Bowl "Utakata"

This is a new *Shudei* (red clay) platinum-glazed *katakuchi* (sake pourer) titled "Houmatsu" (Bubbles) by Toru Ichikawa, an artist who made a striking debut after training under Ryuichi Kakurezaki. It is a highly original and exceptional piece, characteristic of Ichikawa-sensei, who brings his endlessly overflowing ideas to life through the supreme medium of clay. In this *tokkuri* (sake bottle) from his new "Houmatsu" series, a base of platinum glaze that appears to be vigorously boiling at high temperatures is layered with a contrasting, smooth-textured *Shudei* red clay glaze and gold-glazed accents that wrap around the vessel as if alive, creating an avant-garde aesthetic that fully embodies the world of Ichikawa. While the form is orthodox and easy to use as a sake pourer, the interior is boldly splashed with bubbly gold glaze, which will provide a mesmerizing sight for the viewer when sake is poured inside. (There is a small glaze flake within the red circle on the rim shown in photo 5.) Signed wooden box (shiho-zan) included
Diameter 15.1cm × Diameter 13.3cm × Height 8.6cm 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.