九谷酒杯 - 文化勲章 - Asakura Isokichi II 二代 浅蔵五十吉 - Japan - 20th century

HIGHLIGHTS

Artist: Asakura Isokichi II — 1996年に叙勲された文化勲章受章者、日本最高の美術分野の文化栄誉を皇帝自らが授与

First Kutani ware artist in history to receive the Order of Culture

Technique: Uwa-etsuke（窯変上絵付け）を用いた、コバルト、翡翠、琥珀、金の五彩を豊かな gosai色調で表現

Motif: Pine bough — the artist's own title, Shomei, means "pine reflection"

モチーフ: 松の枝 — 作家自身の呼称「Shomei」は“松の反射”を意味します

Signed: Artist's red pigment mark on the kodai (foot ring)

Accompanied by: Tomobako (artist-signed wooden storage box) & Shiori (printed biography card)

Origin: Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan — Kutani ware, designated Traditional Craft by the Japanese government

Condition: Unused dead stock — no visible signs of use


Product Details

Product Details

A single pine bough sweeps across the body of this beautiful sake cup, its needles rendered in deep cobalt and layered jade against an amber ground that glows warmer at the rim. The composition wraps all the way around, so the image shifts and reorganizes itself as the cup turns in the hand — a quality that rewards slow, attentive handling. The artist named this piece Shomei — "pine reflection" — a title that points not to the tree itself but to the quality of light it casts: the way pine filters sunlight into something dappled and changeable, never quite the same twice. The interior is left in clean white porcelain, and at the base the foot ring is ringed in a fine cobalt line that frames the artist's red signature mark. One small area of raised glaze sits just below the main motif, a natural kiln characteristic from the original firing — present from manufacture, not from use or damage.


Artist Profile

Asakura Isokichi II (二代 浅蔵五十吉, 1913–1998) was born in Terai-cho, Nomi County, Ishikawa Prefecture — the historic center of Kutani production — and spent his career pushing the overglaze tradition toward something closer to fine art than tableware.
He exhibited at the Nitten from its very first edition and went on to receive the Cabinet Prime Minister's Award and the Japan Art Academy Prize. In 1984 he was elected a member of the Japan Art Academy. In 1992 he was designated a Person of Cultural Merit. Then in 1996, he became the first Kutani ware artist in history to receive the Order of Culture — Japan's highest honor in the arts, awarded by the Emperor himself to a small handful of individuals each year.
Kutani ware itself carries official weight: it is designated a Traditional Craft by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, one of a limited number of regional crafts to receive this recognition. The Asakura Isokichi Memorial Museum, established in Nomi City and dedicated solely to his work, stands as the clearest evidence of how seriously Japan regards his contribution to the tradition.


Condition & Specifications

Condition: Excellent for age. No chips, cracks, or restoration. While this is a vintage piece, it shows no visible signs of use and retains its original appearance in outstanding condition. This piece is unused dead stock — it was never sold or handled after its original production and has remained in storage in its original condition ever since. A small area of raised glaze is visible on the exterior painted surface, consistent with the original firing process. This is a kiln characteristic present from the time of manufacture and does not affect the structural integrity of the piece.

Height: approx. 5 cm
Diameter: approx. 6 cm
Weight with tomobako: 182 g
Shape: Guinomi sake cup
Material: Porcelain (Kutani ware)
Kodai mark: Red pigment artist's signature
Accompanied by: Tomobako (artist-signed wooden box) & Shiori (biography card)


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About Our Shop:
Based in Tobe Town, Ehime Prefecture — the 250-year-old birthplace of Tobe ware — our shop was founded with a singular purpose: to bring the profound art of Japanese ceramics to collectors around the world. From masterpieces crafted by renowned artisans to one-of-a-kind expressions created in hidden workshops, we sell carefully selected pieces that emphasize the quality and dignity of the work itself, rather than fame. Our name, HOJO (豊穣), means "abundant harvest" — a reflection of the belief that every piece we offer carries the richness of the hands and traditions that shaped it. From Tobe Town, a historic folk art town, we bring the true beauty of Japanese ceramics and its handed-down spirit straight to your home.