This "Aka-e Saibyo" (Ultra-fine Red Painting) guinomi is a pinnacle of Kutani ware artistry by Hogaku Yamamoto (born 1960), a master of contemporary Kutani ware based in Kaga City, Ishikawa Prefecture. Yamamoto is the foremost living successor of the Aka-e Saibyo technique, distinguished by his 1985 commission to create and present the "Aka-e Saibyo Chrysanthemum, Paulownia, and Phoenix Sencha Bowl" to His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince (now Emperor Emeritus).
This work is a top-tier masterpiece featuring the "Phoenix," Yamamoto’s signature and most prestigious motif, meticulously rendered through Aka-e Saibyo, a technique that far transcends the realm of standard red painting. Aka-e Saibyo is a superhuman craft involving the depiction of ultra-fine lines—less than 0.1 mm in thickness—drawn at perfectly equal intervals using red iron oxide (Bengara) pigment. From every individual feather of the phoenix to the microscopic geometric patterns filling the background, the entire surface of the vessel is a dense mass of visual information. This density, which permits no blank space, is the crystallization of a master craftsman's dedication over more than a month of concentrated effort.
Furthermore, the interior of the vessel features a majestic phoenix in heavy gold, serving as a magnificent counterpart to the delicate red painting on the exterior. This perfect harmony of "Red" and "Gold" is a signature style from Yamamoto’s mature period, where his skill and artistry reached their peak. It exudes an elegance worthy of being called the ultimate achievement of red painting in contemporary Kutani. As a supreme vessel designed to brilliantly enhance the amber hues of aged sake or fine whiskey, this is a masterpiece with a unique and powerful presence.
Artist: Hogaku Yamamoto (born 1960)
Representative Career: Upholding the "Aka-e Saibyo" technique—which reached its peak in the Meiji period before seeing a drastic decline in successors—at the highest contemporary level. [1985] Specially commissioned to create and present the "Aka-e Saibyo Chrysanthemum, Paulownia, and Phoenix Sencha Bowl" to His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince (now Emperor Emeritus); [1992] Received the Honorable Mention at the 54th Issuikai Ceramics Exhibition; [1996] Officially certified as a Kutani Ware Traditional Craftsman by the Minister of International Trade and Industry. His exquisitely precise technique is lauded as the zenith of contemporary Kutani red painting.
Museum Collections: Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, Ishikawa Kutani-yaki Art Museum, Kutani-yaki Kiln Site Exhibition Hall, and others.
Period of Creation: Late 1990s–early 2000s (estimated)
Condition: Very good (No chips, no cracks)
Accessories: Original signed wooden box (Tomobako), introductory leaflet
Material: Pottery (Kutani Ware / Aka-e Saibyo / Gilded Painting)
Dimensions: Mouth diameter approx. 5.0 cm, Height approx. 5.8 cm Note: Please note that all products provided by our store, even if in unused condition, are from vintage production periods and are listed as used. Items may show minor age-related wear; please confirm the condition before purchasing.
