Kuro Guinomi

This is a black sake cup by Tomoyuki Oiwa, who has made his highly anticipated debut after studying pottery under Ryuichi Kakurezaki. It is a new piece fired in the third kiln firing of the anagama (climbing kiln) that he designed and built himself in Kamigori, Hyogo Prefecture. Mr. Oiwa aims for an intense firing process, which gives his black pieces a deep luster while drawing out beautiful yet powerful sesame ash glazes. In particular, the yellow sesame ash that gathered on the back flowed down at once and solidified on the front of the piece, creating "tamadare" (dripping jewel) formations with a beauty akin to gemstones. The black slip, made by mixing a tiny amount of metal oxide into Bizen black clay, has been transformed by the intense firing into a blue-toned kiln-change (yohen) effect on the foot and other areas. In terms of form, the piece features a unique, skirt-like silhouette reminiscent of his mentor Ryuichi Kakurezaki, with the cool aesthetic of the black Bizen clay perfectly matching the stylish design. Signed wooden box to be provided at a later date
Diameter 6.6cm x 6.6cm x Height 6.4cm Tomoyuki Oiwa was born in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, in 1977. He completed his studies at the Bizen Pottery Center in 2004 and began his apprenticeship under Ryuichi Kakurezaki in 2005. He established his own studio in 2014.