Introducing a gem of porcelain artistry by Toshio Takeda (1932-), an orthodox potter born in Komatsu City, Ishikawa Prefecture in 1932 (Showa 7). Takeda has won and been selected for numerous awards at Japan's premier ceramic exhibitions, including the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, and his works are held in public museums and by local governments. While this piece was originally created as an elegant teacup, we propose it to the world as the ultimate Ceramic Whiskey Tumbler (sake vessel) for slowly enjoying elegant amber-colored aged sake or premium aged Japanese whisky with ice, making the most of its excellent form and colors.
The most highly regarded technique in Toshio Takeda's pottery career is his "Saiyu" (colored glaze) technique, directly linked to the lineage of the prestigious Kutani ware master Yasokichi Tokuda, whom he studied under from 1950 (Showa 25). This is a masterful technique that maximizes the glassy translucence and color development of traditional Kutani overglazes, beautifully blending different colors on the surface of the vessel. Instead of drawing specific patterns with lines, this technique creates breathtaking gradations (color tones) solely through the overlapping of colored glazes and the convection of heat within the kiln. Requiring exceptional glaze blending skills and precise temperature control, it is considered one of the most distinguished expressions within Kutani ware.
Against the backdrop of this superb Saiyu technique, a uniquely Japanese, atmospheric and emotional design is expressed in perfect harmony. The main motif of this work is the cattail plant (gama no ho), which grows wild in shallow waters of marshes and ponds, wetlands, or fallow rice paddies across Japan in summer. This piece is designed to evoke the fresh, emotional scenery of summer. The vibrant cobalt blue background adorning the outer circumference of the vessel smoothly transitions from yellow to green, and then to blending purples, creating a seamless flow that gives off jewel-like shades, as if capturing the rich waterside scenery and the glittering air of summer itself. What is particularly noteworthy is that the cattail stalks are depicted as different compositions on the front and back of the vessel. The unique brown texture of the quietly standing cattails and the graceful spread of their leaves reveal different expressions on each side, creating a new visual rhythm and depth with every turn of the vessel, showcasing the lyricism of Japanese summer from multiple perspectives.
This is a true masterpiece by an individual artist, Toshio Takeda, who inherited the legitimate lineage of Yasokichi Tokuda, a family line that later produced a Living National Treasure. Takeda himself turned the potter's wheel and applied each glaze by hand, a stark contrast to mass-produced items by corporations or uniform products made by machines. This is an extremely rare authentic Japanese craftwork for which detailed information is scarce in overseas markets, and its artistic value, backed by confirmed awards and acquisitions, will never fade. This supreme piece promises an unparalleled intellectual experience of savoring the finest sake born from the passage of time, accompanied by the beautiful world of cobalt blue saiyu, imbued with the emotional scenery of summer.
- Artist: Toshio Takeda (1932-)
- Artist's representative activities: [From 1950] Studied under Yasokichi Tokuda, [1955] Became independent, selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, won and selected for numerous awards at major domestic exhibitions such as the Ishikawa Prefectural Contemporary Art Exhibition and the Issuikai Exhibition. Full Member of the Japan Kōgei Association.
- Works acquired by: Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, Komatsu City Museum, and others.
- Period of production: 1980s-1990s (estimated)
- Condition: Very good (no chips, no cracks)
- Accessories: Tomobako (Original wooden box signed by the artist), Leaflet
- Material: Porcelain (Saiyu)
- Dimensions: Height approx. 10.0 cm, Mouth diameter approx. 7.9 cm
- Note: Even if the products offered by our store are unused, they were produced a very long time ago and are all listed as used items. The product may have damage due to age, so please understand and confirm this before considering a purchase.
