Nezumishino Guinomi

This is a newly fired Nezumi Shino sake cup by Tomio Ochi, an artist who diligently worked at the kiln under the tutelage of Anjin Abe and continues to pour his unfulfilled aspirations into his ceramics. It is a Nezumi Shino piece that reflects Ochi's characteristic dedication; while one might typically imagine a bluish-gray hue for Nezumi Shino, this work features an iron slip that has turned a deep, dark brown, resulting in a powerful and rugged finish. Rather than a cute "mouse" (nezumi) tone, it evokes the hide of a beast living in the darkness of night, and its hard-textured surface—which seems impervious even to the transformative effects of sake—establishes this cup as a solitary, towering presence. This piece features a smooth finish from the feldspar glaze. With a deep interior much like a Seto-guro tea bowl, it is an exceptionally large and imposing sake cup. Signed wooden box to follow
Diameter 7.3cm x 7.1cm x Height 6.6cm Tomio Ochi was born in Ehime Prefecture in 1949 and graduated from Niihama Technical High School in Ehime.
From 1969, while working at a company, he devoted himself to studying painting and sculpture at Taka Art.
In 1976, he received instruction while serving as a kiln assistant to Anjin Abe in Ehime Prefecture.
In 1998, he built his own kiln on the grounds of Anjin Abe's workshop in Ushimado, Setouchi City, Okayama Prefecture.
He applies his experience in sculpture and painting to his Bizen pottery practice.