Sake cup, Boar design by Takahashi Dohachi

Width: 6.1cm Height: 4.5cm

This elegant sake cup, wrapped in a soft milky white glaze, is an "Imon" sake cup by the 9th Takahashi Michihachi. Carved line decorations reminiscent of ancient patterns surround the rim, creating a work that exudes solemnity within its simplicity. It beautifully harmonizes the refinement of Kyoto ware with the tranquility of the earthenware. Below, we will introduce its appeal and the background to its design in detail from five perspectives.

1. Beauty of form - a plump body and a light base

The shape is a hemisphere that opens slightly towards the rim, with a plump body. The base is slightly tapered and the base is set slightly high, giving the piece a sense of stability and lightness. The curves, which gently grip the fingers, are designed to be comfortable to hold, and give the impression of a highly refined piece of practical vessel.

2. Glaze - A faint cracking pattern on a milky white background

The surface is covered in a pale milky white glaze that reflects softly when exposed to light. Fine crazing has developed on the surface of the glaze, and over time the colors of tea and sake will soak in, allowing you to enjoy the vessel's maturation. The glaze thins slightly near the base, revealing the reddish color of the clay, creating a warm appearance overall.

3. Design - The primordial power contained in the "boar" design

The pattern that runs around the bottom of the rim represents a boar, an abstraction of an ancient animal design. The continuous, sharply engraved lines create a rhythmic effect, while maintaining a sense of unity as a whole. This continuous pattern is reminiscent of ancient Oriental and Jomon pottery, and evokes a "primitive power" as a symbol of the cycle of life and protection. While simple, the design quietly embodies the spirituality of classical patterns.

4. Technique - The intricacy of engraved patterns and the skill of firing

The patterns are engraved with a sharp iron stylus while the piece is drying, and the glaze flows into the grooves, creating three-dimensional shadows. The depth of the engraved lines is exquisitely controlled, and the appearance changes depending on the thickness of the glaze and the reflection of light. Firing at high temperatures causes the glaze to shrink slightly, giving the surface a natural matte finish, achieving a balance between softness and tension.

5. Historical and Cultural Background - Symbolism of the Boar and Protection

The boar is the twelfth of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs, and in the Yin-Yang and Five Elements, it is the direction that governs "water." Since ancient times, it has been a symbol of "secretion," or hiding life within, and represents the power to conceive new life after surviving the harsh winter. In the world of tea ceremony and pottery, the boar has also been revered as an auspicious sign of "patience and rebirth." This work expresses a timeless, universal power by abstracting this symbolism and incorporating it into a tranquil form.

The ninth generation Takahashi Michihachi studied fashion design before becoming the apprentice of the eighth generation in 1996. He succeeded to the name of the ninth generation in 2012 and has produced many works that combine traditional Kyoto ware with a modern sense of design. This work, the "Sake Cup - Boar," is a masterpiece that beautifully combines the spirit of "wabi," which finds beauty in simplicity, with the symbolism of classical patterns.

When you hold it in your palm, you can feel the earth breathing quietly.
It is not just a vessel, but a form of prayer that has been passed down through the ages.