Toki City Designated Intangible Cultural Property Holder, Imperial Household Presentation Kiln, Yozan Kiln, Mizuno Takuzo (水野澤三): Nezumi-Shino Guinomi, Japanese Shot Glass #353

Created by Mizuno Takuzo (水野澤三, 1927–2015) of Yozan Kiln—who was born in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture in 1927 and established a firm status as a prominent figure in the Mino ceramic world—this is a Nezumi-Shino guinomi (sake cup). Mizuno Takuzo studied under the 12th-generation ceramic founder Kato Kageaki starting in 1945 to learn the foundations of Mino ware, before graduating from the Japanese Painting Department at Kyoto College of Art and studying under Living National Treasure Tomimoto Kenkichi, where the artist mastered delicate sketching skills and a refined aesthetic of form. The artist enjoyed the honor of presenting works to Their Majesties the Emperor Showa and Empress in 1981 and 1982, and to His Imperial Highness Prince Takahito Mikasa in 1986. Mizuno received the Gifu Prefecture Traditional Culture Successor Commendation in 2007, the Toki City Ninomiya Cultural Award in 2008, and was designated as a Holder of Toki City Designated Intangible Cultural Property (Setoguro technique) in 2010. Our shop presents this dignified vessel—in which the sketching prowess of Japanese painting and the spirit of Mino Momoyama antique ceramics fuse at an elevated level—to the global market not only as a traditional sake cup, but also as a vintage shot glass for quietly savoring the rich depth of amber aged sake or matured whisky.

Examining the details of this work reveals the essence of Nezumi-Shino (gray Shino) that Mizuno Takuzo perfected through many years of semi-aboveground anagama firing. On the surface of the comfortable cylindrical form measuring approximately 5.0 cm in height and 5.5 cm in mouth diameter, iron slip (oni-ita) was applied to the clay body before being thickly coated with feldspar glaze, which melted beautifully under high wood-kiln temperatures to create Shino's signature yuzuhada (citrus-peel texture) alongside delicate kairagi-like crackles and glaze crawls. Through the gaps in the thick, opaque feldspar glaze, dramatic landscapes of dense hiiro (scarlet fire marks) and deep gray hues born from the chemical reaction between the underlying iron and fire peep through, demonstrating a warm, exquisite quality from the interior base (mikomi) to the rim where the lips touch. From the side of the foot ring down to the bottom, the coarse clay texture of the unglazed, powerfully carved clay body is exposed, where the artist's own incised seal "Taku" is firmly carved.

Regarding the period of production, taking clues from the artist's building of a semi-aboveground anagama kiln at Yozan Kiln in 1967, followed by presentation of works to Their Majesties the Emperor Showa and Prince Mikasa in the 1980s, it is identified as an authentic work created between the 1980s and circa 1990s, when Mizuno's unique kiln-transformation expressions and sculptural beauty in Shino and Setoguro reached maturity. The vessel itself has no cracks or chips, maintaining extremely good condition in feldspar glaze coloration, scarlet fire landscapes, and raw clay texture. It arrives in complete condition, accompanied by its dedicated Tomobako (wooden box) inscribed in ink on the lid "Nezumi-Shino Guinomi" with the signature "Takuzo" and red seal stamped, along with a Tomonuno (wrapping cloth).

• Artist： Mizuno Takuzo (水野澤三, 1927–2015)
• Career Highlights: [1945] Studied under 12th-generation ceramic founder Kato Kageaki; [1952] Graduated from the Japanese Painting Department at Kyoto College of Art and studied under Living National Treasure Tomimoto Kenkichi; [1981 & 1982] Presented works to Their Majesties Emperor Showa and Empress; [1986] Presented work to HIH Prince Takahito Mikasa; [2007] Received Gifu Prefecture Traditional Culture Successor Commendation; [2008] Received Toki City Ninomiya Cultural Award; [2010] Designated as a Holder of Toki City Designated Intangible Cultural Property (Setoguro) Works Housed In： Imperial Household presentation history, Shogan Junior College, etc.
• Date: Circa 1980s–1990s
• Condition： Very good (no chips, no cracks). Please regard the crazing that forms in firing, other characteristics of ceramics and the patina of age as part of the pleasure of an antique piece.
• Accompanied by: Dedicated Tomobako, Tomonuno included
• Medium: Ceramic (Mino ware, Nezumi-Shino glaze, incised seal)
• Dimensions： Height approx. 5.0 cm, Mouth diameter approx. 5.5 cm
• Please Note: 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.
• About the Photographs: We prepare every description with great care, but errors may still remain in the text. Please examine the photos carefully before purchasing. Where the photos and the description differ, please take the photos as the basis for the product information.