Totai Guinomi old vermilion

This is a new *tōtai-shuki* (ceramic-bodied lacquerware) sake cup in ancient vermilion, created by Koji Nakahara, who studied under Fumio Kawabata and aims to craft items that suit modern life. It is a piece of *tōtai-shikki* (lacquerware with a ceramic base) with a primitive vermilion surface that has a very stylish finish. The bold gold-leaf patterns, created by applying the *byakudan-nuri* technique, feature primitive spirals that evoke a powerful, divine atmosphere reminiscent of ancient ritual vessels. The piece is formed using plaster molds to mimic the appearance of hand-coiled earthenware, resulting in a meticulously crafted shape that perfectly maintains the world-view of a sacred vessel while functioning beautifully as a sake cup. When viewed purely as a sake cup, the incredibly soft texture of the lacquer combined with the comfortable, tactile quality achieved through mold-casting makes it an exceptionally intuitive and easy-to-use piece. Includes signed paulownia wood storage box (with cross-braced lid)
Diameter 5.9cm × 5.9cm × Height 5.6cm Koji Nakahara was born in Osaka Prefecture in 1978. He graduated from the advanced course at Nara College of Arts in 2000 and from the Bizen Ceramic Center in 2001. In the same year, he began his apprenticeship under Fumio Kawabata and joined the Kaneshige Ritoen kiln in 2007. Since then, he has actively exhibited his work at the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition and various other juried competitions. He is currently an associate member of the Japan Kōgei Association.