265. MURAKOSHI Takuma, 1954- , guinomi

265. MURAKOSHI Takuma  村越琢磨, 1954- , Sake-nomi  酒呑 (sake cup)

For Murakoshi, see item no. 234. 

Light gray clay from Shigaraki. A few splashes of dark brown glaze on the exterior and interior; otherwise fired unglazed, with kiln effects: hi-iro in coral colors; natural ash glazing in white spots and green glass-like bidoro deposits. Weight:  156 g (5.6 oz). Height: 5.4 cm (2-1/8 in). Widths: rim, 9.2 x 7.9 cm (3-5/8 x 3-1/8 in); base, 3.7 x 3.4 cm (1-1/2 x 1-3/8 in). Capacity: 82 ml (3.7 fl oz). 

This is similar in shape to item no. 234, but slightly smaller. Like item no. 235, it was hand-built using overlapping flat ribbons of clay. Any given cross-section is an oval, although there are many bimps and dents. It sits on a flat base, an irregular oval. The interior of the base is indented, perhaps by the tip of the artist’s thumb (mine fits comfortably in the dent). The walls flare outward from the base to the rim, with many ridges where the edges of the ribbons were joined. On one side of the piece is the artist’s sigil (see item no. 235 for a description), a long curved line with a short bar at the top and two lines off to the right side at the lower end of the long line. The shape of the interior mirrors that of the exterior, but the joins between the ribbons of clay are smoother and less pronounced. Given the rough modeling of the piece, the surface is quite smooth. 

Except for a few splashes of a dark brown glaze on the interior and exterior walls, this was fired unglazed. The exterior and the upper parts of the interior are dotted with white beads, the results of natural ash glazing. The interior has several patches of green glass-like bidoro drips. The portions of the walls not covered with brown glaze or affected by the natural ash glazing show hi-iro colors in the coral range. The natural clay color shows through only on the flat, oval base. 

This came in a wooden box inscribed by the artist in two lines: 酒呑 / たくま sake-nomi / takuma (sake cup / Takuma), followed by a seal bearing the characters for his given name stamped in red. As is his wont, Murakoshi began the inscription on the top of the box (actually on the back edge of the lid) and continued down the front of the box. Included in the box are a small printed leaflet (in Japanese and English) and a brown wrapping cloth. 

Purchased from the Kura Monzen Gallery in Kyoto in October 2024, who received it directly from the potter in summer 2024. This was part of an exhibit entitled Shōka 昇華  (“sublime”), or Modern Masters in English, a show of fifteen currently active potters (invoice and shipping and customs documents).