Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection Artist, Japan Ceramic Society Award Winner Matsui Koyo (松井康陽): Mukunoki Ash Glaze Neriage Teacups (Pair), Japanese Rocks Glass #342

Studying under Matsui Koyo's father Matsui Kosei—a holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property ("Neriage" Marbled Ware / Living National Treasure)—Matsui Koyo (松井康陽, 1962–) elevated marbled ceramics into a new artistic realm through modern compositional perspectives and precise physical calculations cultivated at the School of Art and Design, University of Tsukuba. After graduating in 1985, the artist mastered the Matsui family’s secret clay formulation and sophisticated assembly techniques under Matsui Koyo's father's tutelage, establishing a solid position in modern Japanese ceramics by receiving the Encouragement Award at the 38th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition in 1991 and the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 2002. Matsui Koyo's works are officially housed in public institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art (USA), the Victoria and Albert Museum (UK), and The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo. Our shop presents this supreme handcrafted masterpiece—a crystallization of human passion and scientific insight—to the global market not only as traditional tea vessels for enjoying sencha, but also as vintage rocks glasses (a Japanese pair of free cups) designed for quietly savoring amber-colored aged sake or premium Japanese whisky over large ice cubes.

Examining the details of this work reveals that the fusion beauty of Matsui Koyo's proud, advanced "layered neriage" (marbling) and "mukunoki ash glaze" (using natural plant ash) is clearly manifested across the vessel. Clay sheets of different colors—blue, light blue, dark green, black, and refreshing white—are stacked layer upon layer in millimeter precision, reorganized, and assembled to create abstract yet structured patterns that seem to encapsulate flowing atmosphere, blue drift ice, or the dynamic layers of the Earth. Unlike surface painting, the neriage technique builds the clay itself three-dimensionally, so the patterns continuously penetrate from the interior base (mikomi) through to the bottom foot ring. Matching the differing shrinkage rates of each color with mathematical precision to prevent cracking or peeling during high-temperature firing is truly a physical miracle. Applied over this, the mukunoki ash glaze softly envelops the vivid marbled layers, conferring deep dimensionality and a serene matte texture alongside the refraction of light.

Regarding the period of production, it is identified as an authentic work created in the 2000s (circa 2000–2010), a mature era when a unique expressive style combining geometric layered neriage composition and mukunoki ash glaze reached fulfillment following Matsui Koyo's 1991 Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition Encouragement Award and 2002 Japan Ceramic Society Award. The vessel itself has no chips or cracks, maintaining an exceptionally beautiful condition. It arrives as an item in complete condition, accompanied by its dedicated Tomobako (wooden box) inscribed in ink on the lid "Mukunoki-yu Neriage Yunomi Ittsui" with a seal stamped, an artist-stamped Tomonuno (wrapping cloth), and a biography leaflet.

• Artist： Matsui Koyo (松井康陽, 1962–)
• Artist's Key Activities： [1985] Graduated from the School of Art and Design, University of Tsukuba, and studied under the artist's father Matsui Kosei (Living National Treasure); [1991] Received the Encouragement Award at the 38th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition; [2002] Received the Japan Ceramic Society Award; [2005] Received the Encouragement Award at the 33rd Traditional Art Crafts New Works Exhibition
• Works Housed In： The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Victoria and Albert Museum, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum, Smith College Museum of Art, etc.
• Period of Production： 2000s (circa 2000–2010)
• Condition： Very good (no chips, no cracks)
• Accessories： Dedicated Tomobako, Tomonuno included
• Material： Ceramic (Neriage marbled clay, mukunoki ash glaze, stamped seal)
• Dimensions： Height approx. 8.2 cm, Mouth diameter approx. 8.0 cm (Pair)
• Caution： All products offered by our shop are pre-owned items due to their historical production period, even if unused. Products may have age-related damage, so please consider purchasing after understanding and verifying these condition details.
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