Gold and Platinum Decorated Sake Cup: Kagutsuchi

This is the latest gold and platinum-glazed sake cup, "Kagutsuchi," by Toru Ichikawa, who made a brilliant debut after studying under Ryuichi Kakizaki. It is an exceptionally creative work that embodies Mr. Ichikawa's signature style of giving shape to an endless flow of ideas through clay, the ultimate medium. This piece is part of the new "Kagutsuchi" series, a bold, latest work inspired by Kagutsuchi, the god of fire in Japanese mythology. As if recreating the myth of Kagutsuchi, said to have been born while burning his mother, the goddess Izanami, the work features an intensely cracked "kairagi" glaze, pushed to the extreme limits of shrinkage. Since the god of fire is also worshipped as the god of blacksmithing, I believe this piece reflects Mr. Ichikawa's pride in the act of creating objects through fire—the very essence of ceramics. The "Kagutsuchi" white glaze, reminiscent of a pure white snowfield, is boldly adorned with gold and silver, creating a landscape that is both daring and delicate. Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
Diameter 6.3cm x Diameter 5.4cm x Height 6.0cm Toru Ichikawa was born in Tokyo. He began his apprenticeship under Ryuichi Kakizaki in June 2011 and became independent in Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture, in January 2015.