This is a Kutani ware guinomi (sake cup) with a pomegranate motif by Toshiaki Takegoshi III, a master craftsman who served as a member of the Japan Art Academy, the highest honor in the Japanese art world. It has a refined cylindrical shape that fits comfortably in the hand, and we propose it as a premium shot glass for enjoying excellent traditional Japanese crafts in a modern lifestyle. There is no better sake vessel for savoring aged sake, which takes on a rich amber hue and deep, mellow aroma and flavor over time. Enjoying aged sake with this vessel, which possesses overwhelming prestige as a work of art, will be a supremely luxurious experience for international collectors and discerning guests alike.
Toshiaki Takegoshi, the artist, was born as the 3rd generation of the prestigious Taizan Kiln in Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture, and was a master who left a great mark on the history of modern Kutani ware. His career was brilliant, starting with his first selections for the Nitten Exhibition and the Japan Contemporary Crafts Exhibition, followed by serving as a councilor for the Nitten Exhibition. He achieved the highest honors in public exhibitions, including the Prime Minister's Award at the Nikko-kai Exhibition for his work "Haru Kuru Rashi" (Spring is Coming) and the Prime Minister's Award at the Nitten Exhibition for his work "Shijima" (Silence). Later, he devoted himself to fostering young talent as a professor at Kanazawa Gakuin University, received the Japan Art Academy Award for his work "Lakeside - Colored Glaze Flower Vase," was appointed a member of the Japan Art Academy, the highest honor in the craft world, and served as a managing director of the Nitten Exhibition. We proudly present this rare work by a top-class Japanese artist, of whom there is little information available overseas.
The reason why Toshiaki Takegoshi's works are highly acclaimed by museums and enthusiasts both in Japan and abroad is due to his exceptional technique and modern design sensibility. Having studied industrial design at Kanazawa College of Art and apprenticed under the renowned Professor Tojiro Kitade, he transcended the traditional framework of Kutani ware, pursuing the tension created by the vessel's form and calculated brushstrokes. Furthermore, he was an innovator who worked tirelessly to jointly develop and commercialize lead-free glazes that are gentle to people and the environment. His technical skill, which completely controlled the deep colors and brilliance of Kutani ware using lead-free paints—which are extremely difficult to control in terms of color development—and sublimated them into a unique modern beauty, is the result of his tireless research.
An examination of this work reveals that these characteristics are clearly and splendidly expressed within this small guinomi. The traditional pomegranate motif, revered since ancient times as a symbol of prosperity and fertility, is depicted with the artist's refined modern composition. The pomegranate branch placed on the side of the vessel is drawn with precise, structural lines that evoke his background in industrial design, and the ripe, cracked pomegranate fruit revealing its vibrant red seeds is expressed through meticulous painting. The green, blue, and yellow gradations seen in the surrounding leaves demonstrate an extremely high level of color control technology using lead-free glazes, creating a beautiful harmony of vivid colors. Furthermore, the exquisite balance of negative space with the unpainted white base gives the entire work a modern elegance. The artist's distinctive "Toshi" signature can be seen at the bottom of the vessel, and along with the dedicated tomobako (wooden box signed and sealed by the artist himself), it possesses extremely high rarity value as a flawless and complete item.
- Artist: Toshiaki Takegoshi III (1940-2021)
- Artist's Major Activities: [1957] First selected for Nitten Exhibition, [1963] First selected for Japan Contemporary Crafts Exhibition, [1996] Nitten Exhibition Councilor, [1997] Awarded Prime Minister's Award at Nikko-kai Exhibition for "Haru Kuru Rashi", [2001] Awarded Prime Minister's Award at Nitten Exhibition for "Shijima", [2005] Professor at Kanazawa Gakuin University, [2010] Awarded Japan Art Academy Award for "Lakeside - Colored Glaze Flower Vase" and became a member of the Japan Art Academy, [2011] Managing Director of Nitten Exhibition
- Collection Record: Japan Art Academy (Taito-ku, Tokyo - houses Japan Art Academy Award-winning work "Lakeside - Colored Glaze Flower Vase"), Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art (Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture - houses major works such as "Colored Glaze Flower Vase"), Nomi City Kutani Ware Museum (Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture - houses successive works and related materials from "Taizan Kiln")
- Production Period: Late 1990s - 2000s (estimated)
- Condition: Very good (no chips, no cracks)
- Accessories: Dedicated tomobako (wooden box signed and sealed by the artist himself), artist's profile booklet (shiori) included
- Material: Porcelain (enamelled with gold accents)
- Dimensions: Height approx. 5.5 cm, Mouth diameter approx. 5.5 cm, Base diameter approx. 3.5 cm Note: All products offered by our store, even if unused, are very old and are listed as used items. Products may have damage due to age, so please understand and confirm before considering purchase.
