Matsumoto Isami (松本為佐視): A Masterpiece of Modern Kyoto Porcelain – Redefining Ru Ware Sky-Blue Jade Celadon Shot Glass #211

This is an exquisitely refined Jade Celadon guinomi (sake cup) by Matsumoto Isami (1931–2012), a doyen of the Kyoto ceramic art world and a master who led contemporary Japanese porcelain art. Matsumoto studied under Yaichi Kusube, a recipient of the Order of Culture who elevated post-war Japanese ceramics to the status of pure fine art for appreciation. The spirit of ceramics as pure art beyond utility, inherited from his mentor, consistently flows through his works as a dignified aesthetic form and a superposition of delicate colors.

The unique celadon color achieved by Matsumoto in this work—a Jade Celadon with the depth of an emerald—is the result of a physical phenomenon obtained only by controlling the iron oxide content in the glaze within an extremely fine range of 0.1 to 0.3 percent, and maintaining a perfectly constant reducing atmosphere in the kiln at high temperatures around 1300 degrees Celsius. This technique redefines the sky-blue color achieved by the Ru ware of China's Song Dynasty through a modern chemical approach. By intentionally inducing Rayleigh scattering—which occurs when light reflects off microscopic bubbles and undissolved particles within the glaze layer—it creates a deep transparency impossible with industrial dyes. The incised line (senkoku) technique applied to the entire surface requires a high degree of sensibility to precisely move a needle with sub-millimeter accuracy within the short time the clay body is in a semi-dry state, completed through an irreversible process where not a single mistake is allowed.

In terms of form, it features dimensions that combine stability and elegance, with a mouth diameter of approximately 7.2 cm and a height of approximately 4.2 cm. The ability to evenly fix a deep celadon glaze onto such a thin and refined porcelain while controlling the crazing demonstrates a complete mastery of the firing schedule, based on many years of experience as a Nitten judge. Due to his overwhelming technical skill and dignity, Matsumoto received two Tokusen (Special Selection) awards at the Nitten, Japan's most prestigious art exhibition. His reputation extended overseas, with his works being housed in global museums such as the Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and the Burke Collection in the United States.

Although originally created as a guinomi for enjoying Japanese sake, our gallery proposes this piece as a shot glass for savoring rare aged sake or Western spirits that have matured for decades. The wide mouth design optimizes the surface area where the liquid comes into contact with air, directly delivering the complex aromas produced by Blooming with water to the nasal cavity. Despite its palm-sized dimensions, it is a highly acclaimed academic masterpiece that combines the infinite depth of emerald green with the tension of precise incised lines.

• Artist: Matsumoto Isami (松本為佐視, 1931–2012)
• Artist's Major Career Highlights: Received the 10th Nitten Tokusen (Special Selection) Award, the 6th Nitten Tokusen Award, served as a Nitten Juror, Nitten Councilor, and Director of the Kyoto Craft Arts Writers Association, among others.
• Works in Collections: Spencer Museum of Art (University of Kansas, USA), Minneapolis Institute of Art (USA), Mary and Jackson Burke Foundation (USA), Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art (Kyoto City Museum of Art), Itsuo Art Museum (Ikeda City, Osaka Prefecture), etc.
• Period of Creation: 2000s (Presumed to be from his mature late period)
• Condition: Very good (No chips, no cracks)
• Accessories: Original wooden box (signed and sealed by Matsumoto Isami),  wrapping cloth, and descriptive leaflet included.
• Material: Porcelain
• Dimensions: Mouth diameter approx. 7.2 cm, height approx. 4.2 cm
• Note: All products offered by our gallery, even if unused, are from older production periods and are listed as used items. The product may have age-related wear, so please understand and confirm this before purchasing.