Tokuri will-Pt "Signal"

This is a newly fired *tokkuri* (sake bottle) titled "Signal" from the will-Pt series by Toru Ichikawa, an artist who made a striking debut after studying under Ryuichi Kakurezaki. It is an exceptionally creative work that embodies Ichikawa's signature style of giving form to his ceaseless flow of ideas through the supreme medium of clay. For this "Signal" series sake bottle, he has combined pastel-colored *kairagi* (plum-blossom crackle) glaze with platinum luster—as implied by the "Pt" in the title—resulting in a color scheme that is both opulent and pop. The pastel blue *kairagi* glaze has a scale-like presence that accentuates the piece's contours, lending it a remarkable three-dimensional quality. Conversely, the platinum-lustered sections evoke the appearance of a vessel cast from a solid block of metal. The complex layering of these contrasting textures and presences creates a mysterious aesthetic, reminiscent of molten gold fused with leather. Its unique, pear-like form is thick-walled and substantial; its heavy construction provides excellent stability, making it suitable not only as a sake vessel but also as a single-flower vase. Signed box (shiho-zan) included
Rim 3.5cm x Body diameter 10.3cm x Body diameter 10.3cm x Height 14.3cm Capacity 390cc Toru Ichikawa was born in Tokyo. He began studying under Ryuichi Kakurezaki in June 2011 and established his own studio in Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture, in January 2015.