Sake Cup, Gekkahaku Glaze with Silver Overlay, 16th Generation Toyosai Matsubayashi

Width: 6.7cm x 7.0cm Height: 4.8cm

Silver gilding is applied to enhance the beauty of the Gesshakuyu (moonlight white glaze). Normally, silver gilding is applied over the glaze, but by applying it directly to the bisque, the silver soaks into the clay, creating a unique texture with both a metallic luster and a matte finish. The silver, which starts as a whitish silver, will yellow over time, eventually transforming into the black, patinated look of oxidized silver, allowing you to enjoy its aging process.

The Rinpa Aesthetic Breathes Life into an Elegant Sakazuki

The "Sakazuki Gesshakuyu Nagashi Ginsai" by Mr. Toyosai Matsubayashi is a masterful fusion of elegance and sculptural beauty. Silver gilding, applied as a delicate accent, imparts a serene and refined brilliance to the entire piece. The subtle shimmer of this silver gilding is reminiscent of Ogata Korin's Rinpa school, bringing a calm splendor and dignity to the sakazuki. The Rinpa aesthetic of "simplicity and ornamentation" is skillfully expressed, allowing viewers to appreciate the deep history and tranquil beauty of Japanese art.

A Fantastical Landscape Painted by Gesshakuyu Glaze

A prominent feature of this work is the Gesshakuyu (moonlight white glaze), with its beautiful pale bluish hue that evokes the moonlight illuminating the night sky, creating a fantastical atmosphere. The smooth, translucent texture of the Gesshakuyu imparts a cool impression to the entire piece, possessing a tranquility one could gaze upon forever. Furthermore, the unique patterns created by the naturally flowing glaze give a sense of change and movement, like a landscape painting, and soothe the heart of the viewer.

The Exquisite Accent Provided by Silver Gilding

The silver gilding applied to this sakazuki goes beyond mere decoration, imparting a delicate dynamism to the work. The soft luster of the silver gilding further enhances the pale blue of the Gesshakuyu, acting as a visual accent while maintaining overall harmony. Its understated yet definite presence reflects the "ornamentation and aesthetic unity" found in Rinpa art, adding a subtle yet noble air to the piece.

Fusion of Practicality and Sculptural Beauty

While elegantly crafted, the "Sakazuki Gesshakuyu Nagashi Ginsai" also boasts excellent practicality as an everyday vessel. When held, it fits comfortably in the hand, and its rim feels natural to the lips. The combination of sculptural facets, silver gilding, and Gesshakuyu glaze harmoniously blends visual beauty with functionality, allowing one to appreciate its unique texture and form every time it is picked up.

"Kirei-sabi" and the Spirit of Tea Master Culture

This work embodies the sensibility unique to Toyosai Matsubayashi, who has incorporated modern arrangements while inheriting the tradition of Asahiyaki. The aesthetic of "kirei-sabi," which lies at the heart of Asahiyaki, originated from the tea ceremony culture of Kobori Enshu and embodies the traditional Japanese beauty that holds elegant splendor within stillness. This profound spirituality is conveyed to the present day through this work, earning high acclaim not only as a tea utensil but also as a work of art and craft.

The Beauty Fostered by Asahiyaki and Uji's History

Asahiyaki is a kiln with over 400 years of history in Uji, and the sakazuki "Gesshakuyu Nagashi Ginsai" also bears the mark of its long tradition and historical background. Uji, which flourished as a villa retreat for aristocrats during the Heian period and appears in Murasaki Shikibu's "The Tale of Genji," has long produced high-quality clay and has deep ties to tea ceremony culture. Asahiyaki, guided by Kobori Enshu during the Keicho era, has continued to produce tea pottery centered on the "kirei-sabi" aesthetic. This spirit is still passed down through the works of Toyosai Matsubayashi.

Toyosai Matsubayashi XVI: Tradition and Innovation

Toyosai Matsubayashi, who succeeded to the name of Asahiyaki Toyosai XVI in 2016, creates works that incorporate a modern sensibility while preserving the traditional techniques and aesthetics of Asahiyaki. He has been widely active overseas, with exhibitions and tea ceremonies at the Leach Pottery in St Ives, UK, and the Musée national des arts asiatiques - Guimet in France, and his works have received high acclaim worldwide. The "Sakazuki Gesshakuyu Nagashi Ginsai" is one such masterpiece by Toyosai, where the clear luster of silver gilding, the fantastical blue of the Gesshakuyu glaze, and the sculptural form are harmoniously integrated, creating a special work that combines over 400 years of Asahiyaki history with a new sensibility. You can enjoy a rich experience as the flavor deepens with use, and you appreciate the history and aesthetics behind it.

Toyosai Matsubayashi XVI

Born in 1980 in Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture, as the eldest son of Toyosai Matsubayashi XV. He studied pottery wheel techniques at the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramics Training School and trained under his father. In 2015, he stayed at the Leach Pottery in St Ives, UK, to create works, and the following year, 2016, he succeeded to the name of Asahiyaki Toyosai XVI.

He produces tea ceramics such as tea bowls, chaire (tea caddies), mizusashi (freshwater jars), and hanaire (flower vases), based on Asahiyaki, which has been handed down in Uji for over 400 years since the Keicho era, and the "kirei-sabi" aesthetic of the tea master Kobori Enshu. While inheriting Asahiyaki's traditional kase (deer back glaze) and beni-kase (red deer back glaze), he established "Gesshakuyu Nagashi" (moonlight white flowing glaze) with its pale bluish-white glaze as his unique contemporary style. Utilizing the expressions of Uji's clay and precise wheel-throwing, he incorporates gold and silver gilding and new forms, presenting works that harmonize tradition and modernity.

In addition to holding solo exhibitions throughout Japan, he has also presented his works overseas in places such as London, Paris, New York, Taiwan, and Shanghai. His works are housed in the National Museum Wales. In 2020, he held a solo exhibition at Nonaka-Hill Gallery in Los Angeles, and in 2023, he participated in "Leaping Creators" at the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art. In 2026, to commemorate his tenth anniversary of succession, he held commemorative tea ceramic exhibitions at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store and Kyoto Takashimaya.