Bizen ware sake cup

This Bizen sake cup is by Hikaru Shimamura, an artist who inherits the traditional genre of fine crafts with a unique sensibility and creativity. In taking on the challenge of creating a sake cup, the artist has gone beyond simple wheel-thrown forms to produce a piece that showcases meticulous craftsmanship, reflecting the pride of a true artisan. The silhouette is reminiscent of a tea bowl paired with a teapot (houhin), and the incredibly refined form—hard to believe it was hand-molded—is a testament to Shimamura-sensei's high level of technical skill. The surface features a unique carved pattern that Shimamura-sensei has named "ice crack," a vista achievable only because of his ability to combine the difficulty of freehand carving with the intuitive sense required for geometric design. Signed wooden box (shiho-san) included
Diameter 6.4cm × Diameter 6.1cm × Height 6.1cm Hikaru Shimamura was born in Osafune-cho, Okayama Prefecture, in 1942. After graduating from the Department of Painting at Naniwa College, he began his ceramic studies independently. He creates fine crafts by masterfully utilizing hand-molding and molds. His designs often feature familiar subjects such as cats, sparrows, climbing kilns, and pine firewood. He built his own anagama kiln in Osafune-cho and became independent in 1978. In 1992, he built a climbing kiln in the Kuku-i area. He has held solo exhibitions in Tokyo, Okayama, and New York. In 2013, he was certified as a holder of Bizen ware production techniques, a designation of the Bizen City Intangible Cultural Property. In 2019, he was certified as a holder of an Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Cultural Property.