Gold and Platinum Sake Cup "Kagutsuchi" Black

This is a gold and platinum-glazed Kagutsuchi sake cup by Toru Ichikawa, who made a sensational debut after studying under Ryuichi Kakurezaki. In this piece, the intense "kairagi" (plum blossom crackle) glaze from the Kagutsuchi series—named after the Japanese fire god Kagutsuchi—has been further evolved. The work expresses a delicate worldview by combining, like a patchwork, a fine-particle glaze known as "Kagutsuchi-ki" with a smooth, voluminous glaze. Departing from the profound world of fire seen in the previous Kagutsuchi series, this piece takes on a more avant-garde and artistic expression. The lizard-skin-like black glaze features random grains of scales transformed into gold, creating a landscape that possesses both the brilliance and mystery unique to ceramics. While the Kagutsuchi glaze combines black, platinum, and gold, the tasteful glaze finish results in a chic and sophisticated appearance. This is a fairly large sake cup that could also serve as a rocks glass. Signed wooden box (shiho-zan) with lid
Diameter 7.8cm x Diameter 7.4cm x Height 6.8cm Toru Ichikawa was born in Tokyo. He began his apprenticeship under Ryuichi Kakurezaki in June 2011 and established his own studio in Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture, in January 2015.