Shuten S-「Premium Edition」

This is the new sake cup, S-"Premium Edition," by Toru Ichikawa, who made a sensational debut after studying under Ryuichi Kakurezaki. It is a highly original and exceptional piece, characteristic of Ichikawa-sensei, who brings his endlessly overflowing ideas to life through clay, the ultimate medium. As a special work among his Shino-style pieces, it is titled S-Premium Edition, taking the "S" from "SHINO." It successfully balances the intrinsic interest of the intensely burnt feldspar glaze with the fascinating ceramic quality of the red clay body showing through, transforming the glaze into a pink hue. This ambitious work was created through an incredibly unconventional firing process, in which the artist opened the gas kiln while it was firing and, wearing a firefighter's protective suit, applied ash glaze to the piece inside. The ash glaze from that moment remains on the front of the work like a molten gold nugget. Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
Diameter 7.5cm × Diameter 7.3cm × Height 6.5cm 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.