– By Sudō Yōko (須藤陽子), a contemporary Japanese ceramic artist – A soft blue-to-grey gradient glaze with bold vertical stripe decoration in iron-brown and white — painterly and assured – Elegant tall-cup form with a gently swelling profile, suited equally to sake drinking and display Summary: A guinomi by contemporary ceramic artist Sudō Yōko, distinguished by a luminous blue-grey gradient glaze and confident vertical stripe decoration. The cup's surface transitions from a cool, atmospheric blue at the base to a pale celadon-grey at the rim, with sweeping dark iron-brown and white stripes running vertically down the body like rain on glass. The result is a piece of understated lyricism — quietly painterly, rhythmically composed, and deeply satisfying in the hand. The first thing that strikes the eye is the colour. A soft indigo gathers at the lower body, deepening where the glaze pools, then gradually lightening as it ascends toward the rim. It is the palette of a winter sky just before dusk — that suspended moment when blue begins to bleach into silver. Against this atmospheric ground, the vertical stripes move with the assurance of brushstrokes on a scroll painting. Sudō Yōko's stripe decoration is neither mechanical nor tentative. Each line has its own weight and character: some run in a single clean stroke of dark iron, others open into broader passages where the underlying clay or a white slip interrupts the dark tone. The interplay between these elements creates a visual rhythm — regular enough to feel composed, varied enough to remain alive. The effect recalls bamboo groves, rain streaks, or the vertical grain of weathered timber. The form is a graceful tall cup with a gentle swell through the middle and a narrowing at the base that lifts the piece and lends it a sense of lightness. The interior is finished in a clean, glossy celadon-toned glaze that provides a calm, luminous well for sake. The rim is finely resolved — thin enough for comfortable drinking yet substantial enough to feel considered. In use, this guinomi invites a slower pace. The tall form concentrates aroma beautifully, making it an excellent companion for aromatic sake styles — a fragrant daiginjo or a nuanced junmai ginjo. The surface offers a pleasant tactile grain, and the vertical decoration gives the hand something to explore between sips. For display, the piece brings a welcome note of colour and movement to a shelf or vitrine. It pairs naturally with other blue-toned ceramics, or provides a cool counterpoint when set alongside warmer earth-toned wares. The vertical composition gives the cup a sense of upward energy that makes it an appealing focal point in any small grouping. Condition is very good, consistent with a carefully handled studio piece. A beautifully composed guinomi — where colour, line, and form converge in a cup of quiet, painterly elegance. Shipping & Handling We ship worldwide via DHL or EMS with full insurance and tracking. Professional packing ensures safe arrival; combined shipping available for multiple wins. Local customs duties are the buyer's responsibility. Seller Guarantee We specialise in authentic Japanese ceramics and guarantee this piece's authenticity. Questions welcome – we reply within 24 hours.