Totai Guinomi black

This is the new "Black Crest" ceramic-base sake cup by Koji Nakahara, a student of Fumio Kawabata who aims to create works that suit modern life. This *totai shikki* (lacquerware on a ceramic base) piece features a stylish, primitive brown finish. The artist has applied a *byakudan-nuri* (sandalwood lacquer) technique to paint bold gold designs across the entire surface, and the primitive swirling patterns evoke a powerful, divine atmosphere reminiscent of ancient ritual vessels. The shape, which is hand-molded using plaster casts to achieve an earthenware look, showcases a meticulous attention to detail that perfectly completes the piece as a functional sake vessel without compromising its divine, artifact-like aesthetic. Viewed purely as a sake cup, the combination of the incredibly soft texture of the lacquer and the excellent hand-feel from the cast-molding makes it a simple, highly usable piece. Signed wooden box (shiho-zan)
Diameter 6.0cm x 5.9cm x Height 5.5cm 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 Pottery Center in 2001. That same year, he began his apprenticeship under Fumio Kawabata, and in 2007, he joined the Kaneshige Toshu Pottery. Since then, he has actively exhibited his work at the Japan Traditional Kogei Exhibition and various other public exhibitions. He is currently an associate member of the Japan Kōgei Association.