This piece perfectly captures the raw beauty of Bizen ware. The Sakazuki (sake cup), in particular, features striking Yohen (kiln effects) on one side, offering a fascinating keshiki (landscape) to admire. It bears a mirrored kanji for 'horse'(UMA). In Japanese tradition, reading the word backwards sounds like MAU (to dance), and its reversed orientation symbolizes being 'unsurpassed.' This clever wordplay makes it a powerful talisman for victory and good fortune. A slight indentation on the base remains from the firing process, an authentic, physical trace of nature's forces at work in the kiln.
Spec
Artist: Sadamitsu Sugimoto (1935–)
Item: Sake Set (1 Tokkuri, 1 Guinomi)
Motif: Hidari-uma (Reversed Horse)
Accessories: Original signed wooden box (Tomobako), Original Fabric(Tomonuno)
The Object A set of sake flask and cup. The "Hidari-uma" (Reversed Horse) motif is depicted. This is a traditional Japanese symbol for unparalleled excellence and good fortune.
The Artist Sadamitsu Sugimoto is a highly regarded ceramic artist known for his tea ceremony utensils. He studied Zen Buddhism under Taiki Tachibana, a prominent Zen Master at Daitoku-ji Temple in Kyoto. His works are deeply influenced by Zen philosophy and the aesthetics of Wabi-Sabi.
