Painted Bizen Sake Cup

This is a new colored Bizen sake cup by Anjin Abe, an artist who, with his profound insight into antique pottery and refined aesthetic sense, creates one-of-a-kind works through his unique research and firing techniques. A majestic Red Fuji is depicted in a powerful composition against a backdrop of brilliant gold; the artist’s superior compositional ability is evident here, as seen in his choice to depict only the snow-capped peak of the mountain. The gold leaf used in this piece is exceptionally radiant, shining like polished gold and creating a masterful fusion of pottery and painting. The interior of the cup features a similarly vivid and beautiful red moon, and the intricate craftsmanship—such as the gold leaf encircling the moon—is truly magnificent. The back and interior are adorned with thick, cascading yellow sesame ash glaze (higo), a firing style that has long impressed fans of antique Bizen and ensures the piece is a delight to view from every angle. Signed wooden box (shiho-san, double box)
Diameter 6.4cm × Diameter 5.7cm × Height 5.5cm Anjin Abe was originally a Western-style painter. While collecting pottery as a hobby, he felt a lack of satisfaction with contemporary Bizen ware and began ceramics in 1972 to create pieces that met his own exacting standards. He frequently creates water jars (mizusashi), flower vases, flat jars, bowls, sake bottles, and sake cups. All are wheel-thrown and finished with a spatula. His work is grounded in the antique Bizen of the Momoyama period, with a particular focus on firing techniques. He also engages in diverse expressive activities, presenting works that combine various materials and techniques, such as ceramics, lacquer, oil painting, and bronze (mixed media). He holds solo exhibitions energetically both in Japan and abroad, in cities including Tokyo, Osaka, New York, and Paris.