This is a turquoise blue glaze sake cup crafted by Kenji Kato (1933–2008) of Shinsho Kiln in Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture, an artist who graduated from Kyoto City University of Arts, studied under three Living National Treasures—Kenkichi Tomimoto, Yuzo Kondo, and Yoshimichi Fujimoto—and achieved high international acclaim as a full member of the Japan Art Crafts Association and the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC). After mastering traditional Mino ware techniques, Kato served as a visiting professor dispatched by the Japanese government to the Istanbul Academy of Fine Arts in Turkey in 1971. Through his research there, he established a unique sculptural world merging traditional Middle Eastern and Oriental ornamentation with Japanese ceramic aesthetics. His international achievements were highly recognized; he received the Osman Hamdi Art Award from the Turkish government in 1986 and the Gifu Prefecture Cultural Achievement Award in 1995, with his works housed in major public institutions including the Gifu Prefectural Museum of Art and the Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum.
This piece is a masterpiece that brilliantly exemplifies "Turquoise Blue Glaze" (Toruko-shō) and "Black Enamel/Underglaze Painting" (Kokusai-monyō), the signature techniques most highly celebrated in Kenji Kato's oeuvre within Mino ceramic history and modern craft art. Turquoise blue glaze, which utilizes copper compounds as a coloring agent, is a highly challenging glaze whose coloration is heavily influenced by kiln temperatures and reduction atmospheres; achieving a turquoise blue with uniform transparency and depth requires precise formulation and advanced firing expertise. In this work, a beautiful glassy turquoise glaze covers the entire vessel, with countless delicate crackles (kannyu) reflecting light. Beneath the glaze, the artist—deeply versed in the traditional ornamentation of Istanbul and the Orient—has executed bold, dynamic black-painted botanical and geometric motifs extending from the exterior into the inner basin. The foot section reveals the robust texture of unglazed red clay resembling terracotta, stamped with the artist's mark "Ken" inside the base, creating a dignified contrast between raw earth, vivid turquoise, and black enameling.
We propose this stemmed sake cup, possessing immense art-historical value and exotic elegance, as a supreme Japanese Kogei sake vessel for savoring aged spirits, premium whisky, or chilled sake in a sophisticated modern lifestyle. The comfortably handling stemmed structure and the amber or transparent tones of spirits poured inside reflect beautifully against the vibrant turquoise blue and black geometric motifs, elevating daily evening drinks into a special engagement with peak art. Because Kenji Kato devoted significant time to educational activities abroad and international cultural exchange projects, the absolute number of individual handcrafted sake cups he produced remains extremely limited. This masterpiece comes in an exceptionally rare condition, complete with its original wooden box (Tomobako)—inscribed on the lid with "Turquoise Blue Sake Cup" and "Kenji" in calligraphy alongside red seals—and a stamped original cloth (Tomonuno).
- Artist：Kenji Kato (Shinsho Kiln, 1933–2008)
- Artist's Representative Activity：[1956] Graduated from Kyoto City University of Arts, studied under Kenkichi Tomimoto, Yuzo Kondo, and Yoshimichi Fujimoto, [1968] Instructor at Ohio State University Department of Art, [1971] Appointed Visiting Professor at Istanbul Academy of Fine Arts (Turkey) by the Japanese Government, [1976] Cultural Envoy for Ceramics for the Japan Foundation, [1986] Awarded the Osman Hamdi Art Award by the Turkish Government, [1995] Awarded the Gifu Prefecture Cultural Achievement Award, [1997] Visiting Professor at Anadolu University (Turkey), Full Member of Japan Art Crafts Association, Member of International Academy of Ceramics (IAC), Senior Advisor of Mino Ceramic Artists Association
- Works in Collection：Gifu Prefectural Museum of Art, Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum
- Period of Production：Late Showa Period (1970s–1980s, Peak period after Turkish professorship)
- Condition：Very good (no chips, no cracks, excluding age-related character typical of antique art)
- Accessories：Dedicated wooden box (Tomobako) with "Turquoise Blue Sake Cup" and "Kenji" calligraphic inscription and seal on the lid; original stamped cloth (Tomonuno) included
- Material：Stoneware (Turquoise blue glaze, black underglaze painting, red earthenware body, crackle glaze)
- Dimensions：Height approx. 5.3 cm, Mouth diameter approx. 5.3 cm
- Caution：All products offered by our shop are historical items from an old production period and are listed as antique art / pre-owned items. Products may have subtle changes due to age, so please consider purchasing after understanding and verifying the nature of antique art.
