Bizen Guinomi

This is a Bizen sake cup by Rokuro Nakamura, a traditional craftsman whom Bizen is proud of and who was hailed as a god of sake vessel making. It is a piece from his later years, featuring the powerful yet charming form beloved by sake enthusiasts. While many may associate Nakamura-family Bizen ware with "amayaki" (soft-fired) works, this piece allows you to enjoy the orange earth tones and rich, sticky-textured "shiso" (perilla-leaf purple) colors that emerged from a firm, high-temperature firing. The overall appearance is strongly influenced by reduction firing, with metallic hues across the surface and a grey "sangiri" (ash-smothered) pattern appearing as a "katamigawari" (split-side) effect. The rim forms a beautiful triangle, and this masterful craftsmanship, worthy of a god of sake vessels, will surely make your sake taste even better. (There are no visible signs of use or dirt, but please note that this is a pre-owned work.) Signed wooden box
Diameter 7.5cm × Diameter 7.3cm × Height 5.6cm Rokuro Nakamura was born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture, in 1914.

He worked for a company until the end of World War II, after which he studied under Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige in 1945 to master the techniques of Bizen ware.

He later established his own Rokuro Kiln and became independent in 1961.

In 1986, he was certified as a traditional craftsman and received the Okayama Nichinichi Shimbun Award the same year.

In 1989, he was awarded the Order of the Blue Paulownia Leaves (7th Class) in the Spring Decorations.

He created mainly sake vessels, as well as flower vases and tea utensils, with his sake vessels in particular receiving great acclaim from pottery enthusiasts.

He passed away in April 2004.