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Sandra Wong

【Item Description】
山田象陶 Yamada Shotou — Iwakuni-yaki Guinomi Sake Cup with Dramatic White Serpent Glaze (Shiro-Hebi-yu), Kikkō-gama Kiln
A rare and striking guinomi (sake cup) from Kikkō-gama kiln in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture — one of Japan's most intriguing revived kiln traditions. This piece is a testament to both the ancient craft heritage of the Iwakuni feudal domain and the bold creative vision of its founding master, Yamada Shotou.
The Glaze: White Serpent (Shiro-Hebi-yu)
The defining feature of this cup is its extraordinary Shiro-Hebi-yu ("White Serpent Glaze") — a signature technique developed exclusively at Kikkō-gama and named after the sacred albino serpents of Iwakuni, which are considered a national natural treasure of Japan. Thick, luminous white glaze has been applied in bold relief, flowing and pooling across the surface in sinuous, organic patterns that evoke the movement of serpents gliding across stone. The contrast between the brilliant glaze and the rough, iron-rich reddish-brown clay body beneath creates a dramatically textured surface that is as tactile as it is visually powerful. No two pieces are ever alike — each firing produces a unique landscape of white curves and exposed clay.
Oni-Hagi Character
The clay body — formed from Ahon-tsuchi, the rare local clay of the Ahon district in Iwakuni — displays the rugged, coarse texture characteristic of Oni-Hagi ("Demon Hagi") style stoneware: unrefined, raw, and deeply expressive. The warm terracotta tone of the unglazed base ring (kodai) grounds the piece with an honest, earthy presence.
Form and Ergonomics
The cup takes a wide, drum-like cylindrical form with gently tapering sides. The exterior features subtle yubiosae ("finger-press dimples") — an intentional ergonomic design element that allows the cup to nestle naturally in the palm, providing an exceptionally comfortable and secure grip. This detail reflects the deep connection between Japanese ceramics and the meditative, embodied act of drinking.
The Potter's Mark
The incised seal of Yamada Shotou is impressed into the side of the base, partially veiled by the flowing white glaze — a characteristic and authentic feature of his work.
A Lost Tradition Revived
Iwakuni-yaki traces its origins to the Genroku era (c. 1700), when the Iwakuni feudal domain established its official kiln to produce refined tea wares for the shogunate. The tradition fell silent for over a century before Yamada Shotou — trained under the 14th-generation Hagi-yaki master Sakakura Shinbei — rediscovered the historic Ahon clay deposit in 1973 and re-established the kiln on its current site. This cup is not merely a vessel; it is a living piece of a once-lost tradition, reborn in the hands of a master devoted to its revival.

【Size】
Height: 6 cm
Width: 6.5 cm (diameter)

【Weight】
97.1 g

【Condition】
This guinomi is in excellent condition with no chips, cracks, or repairs; the white serpent glaze relief is fully intact, and the unglazed base shows only natural firing marks consistent with its character.

【Artist Profile】
山田象陶 Yamada Shotou — Kikkō-gama Kiln, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Yamada Shotou is the founding master of Kikkō-gama kiln, established in 1973 in the Ahon district of Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. He trained under the 14th-generation master of Hagi-yaki, Sakakura Shinbei, mastering the refined traditions of Japanese tea ceremony ceramics (chatō). Driven by a mission to resurrect the long-extinct official kiln of the Iwakuni feudal domain — the original Iwakuni-yaki, which had ceased production in the Edo period — Shotou rediscovered the historic Ahon clay deposit in 1973 and established Kikkō-gama, developing unique glaze traditions including the now-iconic Shiro-Hebi-yu (White Serpent Glaze), inspired by Iwakuni's celebrated sacred white serpents.
His work has been recognized in major exhibitions, including a prize at the 15th Contemporary Art Exhibition, and he has received commissions for large-scale ceramic wall installations at Iwakuni City Hall and Iwakuni Central Library — a mark of distinction reserved for artists of significant public standing. Solo exhibitions at prestigious department stores including Kintetsu Matsushita and Fukuya further attest to his reputation. The kiln continues today, with Shotou's son Tetsuo carrying on the craft.

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1970-1980, 1980-1990 - Japan -  

Yamada Shotou - Cup - Stoneware - Ogi-Hagi Sake cup

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