23653 Living National Treasure Shimizu Uichi (Horaiyo Cup)

Height 4.0cm Diameter 7.7cm

He studied Chinese pottery under Ishiguro Munemaro, a Living National Treasure for "Iron-glazed Pottery." After serving as an apprentice at the National Kyoto Ceramic Testing Center, he served as an assistant in the Ceramics Department at the Kyoto Municipal Industrial Research Institute. After that, he devoted himself to pottery, mainly in his home pottery studio, and was recognized as a Living National Treasure for "Iron-glazed Pottery" at the young age of 59, the youngest record at the time. In his later years, he moved his pottery studio to the foot of Mount Horai in Kosai, Shiga Prefecture, and continued to work there. This is the best work by Shimizu Uichi, a world-renowned potter. This work was made at Horai Kiln, built at the foot of Mount Horai, which is rich in nature, and the fact that the name of the kiln is inherited on the work shows that it is a special work for Shimizu Uichi. This work, named "Horaiyo," is characterized by a fantastic landscape that spreads from the inside to the rim, and the sharp, thin shape that seems to cut your hand and the unique sparkling grains of Horaiyo are perfectly aligned, making it a masterpiece of outstanding workmanship. This work is a must-have piece when talking about Professor Shimizu Uichi, a fantastical masterpiece in which the cup comes to life and should be passed down to future generations; a great masterpiece that continues to add brilliance to the history of Japanese pottery as a sake vessel that radiates the glow of "Horai (Horai Kiln)."