KIKUBORI SHONZUI Yunomi - pair (handcrafted Teacup)

Handcrafted Teacup: pair: 140ml (4.92fl oz) each, diameter: 3.35inches (8.5cm) height: 2.36inches (6cm)
Extremely traditional Kyo Yaki (Kyoto Style)
Made by Ichiraku Yamamoto at Ichiraku Kiln

This is an exquisite porcelain Yunomi, which is extremely traditional Kyo Yaki (Kyoto pottery and porcelain), featuring a highly decorative style requiring a level of expertise found only among the most skilled artisans. Each design and landscape is elaborately painted with a refined touch. Auspicious motifs painted in indigo blue color are well reflected on the white porcelain. The more carefully we look, the more the teacup patterns and landscape fascinate us.

KIKU means chrysanthemum, BORI means carving, and SHONZUI means traditional patterns in Japanese. Each pattern and landscape design are surrounded by linear and curved lines, and each separate space expresses chrysanthemum petals. Six different traditional patterns, a traditional auspicious motif known to bring prosperity to one’s descendants, are decorated with a refined touch. Each line is quite delicate, leaving each pattern’s subtle presence on the teacup.

One of the focal points of this porcelain is its painting technique, especially its landscape, animals and plants. Each design inside the chrysanthemum petals are decorated only with blue glaze. Ichiraku Yamamoto expresses the slight color difference of flower, bamboo and bird’s colors, and the depth of the scenery, by the use of one-color gradation. This sublime and delicate technique not only creates the colorful image, but also provides the appearance of depth.

Blue glaze inside and outside the teacup is also well reflected on the white porcelain. Even skilled artisans have difficulty painting inside the teacup, but its geometric traditional pattern is decorated with a refined touch. Exquisite white space within the chrysanthemum petals and inside the teacup creates a calm and relaxed atmosphere.

The teacup is elaborately scraped away, and the scraped parts create varying shades of glazing colors. Only the blue glaze color is used, but evenly scraped lines, which fit into the hands comfortably, create a graceful atmosphere. It is very difficult to scrape into the porcelain, and a highly skilled technique is required for this process.

Each traditional pattern and design is decorated elaborately and skillfully. The prominent painting technique used for the traditional pattern evokes the essence of Kyo Yaki teaware, and the delicate beauty of landscape, plants and animals feels as if we are surrounded by its scenery.

In Japan, highest quality Kyo Yaki porcelain such as this is purchased with the intent that it will be passed down from generation to generation. This Yunomi is the quintessential traditional highest quality Kyo Yaki porcelain, an ideal to which others aspire. To consider the quality of this work, it is quite a reasonable price.

Specially packaged in a wooden box.
Lead-free. Made in Japan.