37. A copy of Kenzan's Snow-covered Plum Blossom Sake Cup by Kosai Miyagawa

Height: 7.5cm Width: 6.5cm

This work, "Sake Cup with Plum Blossoms in the Snow, Copy of Kenzan's," depicts delicate plum blossoms blooming in the snow, skillfully expressing their beauty and the sense of the season. The surface of the vessel is depicted with slightly raised snow, further enhancing the plum blossoms blooming there. This motif of plum blossoms in the snow has also appeared in many masterpieces of Japanese painting, such as "Sliding Door with Plum Blossoms, Bamboo and Birds in the Snow" by Kano Tan'yu, an official painter of the early Edo period, and "Plum Blossoms in the Snow" by Tsuchida Bakusen. As with these works, the contrast between the snow and the plum blossoms embodies a delicate beauty that simultaneously evokes the stillness of winter and the breath of spring.

The ease and appeal of sake cups

This sake cup is slightly larger than a regular sake cup, but it fits comfortably in your hand and is easy to hold. It has a large capacity, so you can enjoy your sake slowly while admiring the beautiful patterns painted on the cup. Every time you sip, the picture of plum blossoms in the snow will come to your eyes, allowing you to spend an elegant moment.

What is a Kenzan copy?

"Kenzan copies" refer to works that imitate the style of Ogata Kenzan, a master of Kyoto ware from the Edo period. Kenzan, along with his brother Ogata Korin, incorporated gorgeous floral patterns influenced by the Rinpa school and free and bold designs into Kyoto ware. Kenzan's plum motif in particular is characterized by the contrast between the vibrant trunk and the dainty flower, and the theme of plum blossoms in the snow must have had a special meaning in his work as well. "Kenzan copies" are not simply imitations, but a technique that creates works that incorporate Kenzan's techniques and aesthetic sense while adding a new interpretation.

The Miyagawa Kosai family and the appeal of straw ash glaze

This sake cup is made using straw ash glaze, a unique glaze of the Miyagawa Kosai family. Straw ash glaze is a particularly precious glaze among Kyoto ware, characterized by its soft bluish texture. This glaze has been carefully passed down by successive generations of Makzu ware owners, and when applied to the entire vessel, it creates a mellow milky white skin, giving the vessel a unique texture that combines warmth and elegance. The glaze's appearance also changes depending on the type of clay and firing method, sometimes resulting in a warm reddish hue and sometimes a cool bluish-white hue. In this way, the straw ash glaze has a different appearance for each vessel, so you can discover new charms every time you pick up a piece.

The history and inheritance of Makuzu ware

Makuzu ware began when Yukan Miyagawa Kobei Masakazu opened a kiln in Kyoto during the Jokyo era (1684-1687) in the Edo period. It was later passed down to the Chobei and Jibei families, and the name of Makuzu ware spread especially when Miyagawa Chozo, the fifth head of the Chobei family, opened a kiln in Makugahara, Higashiyama. The Miyagawa Kosai family continued to produce tea utensils and sencha tea utensils, and have passed Makuzu ware down to the present day. The current seventh head of Makuzu, Miyagawa Kosai, has inherited the tradition and techniques and continues to produce works that are highly acclaimed both in Japan and abroad. The Miyagawa family's works are held in many art museums, including the Victoria and Albert Museum (London) and the Permanent Mission of Japan to UNESCO (Paris), and are loved by many collectors. The "Kenzan Copy of Snow-covered Plum Wine Cup" is a piece that can be said to be the culmination of the tradition and techniques of the Miyagawa Kosai family. The delicate painting of Kenzan's plum motif and the beauty of the straw ash glaze that has been passed down for generations are beautifully combined to provide a rich experience both visually and tactilely. You will be able to enjoy the luxurious experience of tasting sake while savoring the techniques and aesthetic sense that have been honed over a long history.