Tiger-shaped sake cup by Michihachi Takahashi

Width: 6.1cm Height: 4.5cm

This piece, with its pale milky glaze and the abstract "tiger design" quietly moving around it, is part of the "Twelve Zodiac Sake Cups" series by Takahashi Michihachi IX.
Its appearance, which combines strength and serenity, truly reflects the spirit of courage, determination, and regeneration that the tiger symbolizes.

1. Sculptural beauty - exquisite balance and inner tension

The shape is bowl-shaped with a slightly outward-curving rim, and the body is bulging while the base tapers naturally.
The base is slightly raised, giving the car a sense of both stability and lightness.
When held in the palm of your hand, the thickness and center of gravity are perfectly balanced, giving you a sense of the sculptural balance that is unique to the Kudai.

2. Glaze Tone - The harmony of warmth and cold in the milky white glaze

The glaze that covers the entire piece is milky white in color, and when it catches the light it takes on a slightly silvery-gray sheen.
The surface has fine crazing, and as the sake soaks into the vessel over time, the vessel's appearance deepens, allowing you to enjoy the process.
A slight fire appears around the elevated area, adding a gentle warmth.

3. Design - The power and restraint of the "Tiger design"

The inscription that surrounds the bottom of the rim is an abstraction of the ancient hieroglyphic character for "tiger."
The design, with its vertical lines and sharp angles, exudes a powerful presence reminiscent of a tiger's claw marks.
However, the lines are never rough; rather, their methodical repetition creates a beauty of quiet discipline and moderation.
Since ancient times, the tiger has governed the northeast-northeast direction, signifying a new beginning as well as a sign of positive energy.
This work truly captures the "spirit of dawn" in its tranquil form.

4. Technique - Resonance between engraved lines and glaze

After the clay is shaped on a potter's wheel, the patterns are engraved one stroke at a time using an iron stylus while it is drying.
The slight difference in the depth of the engraved lines and the thickness of the glaze creates a shadow effect in the glaze called "glaze relief."
The pattern softly emerges depending on the angle from which you view it, creating a different impression each time you pick it up.
The repetition of evenly balanced engraved lines demonstrates the artist's precise technique and concentration.

5. Historical and Cultural Background - Symbol of the Tiger and Rebirth

Among the twelve zodiac signs, the tiger symbolizes the time when positive energy begins to move.
It marks a turning point in the transition from the stillness of winter to spring, and has been revered since ancient times as a guardian of courage and progress.
The ninth generation Takahashi Dohachi does not paint this symbol in a flashy way, but instead hides it in the rhythm of the lines and the shadows of the glaze.
It offers a modern interpretation of "quiet power."

The ninth generation Takahashi Michihachi studied fashion design before moving on to pottery, studying under the eighth generation in 1996 and succeeding to the name of the ninth generation in 2012.
While inheriting the beauty of traditional Kyoto ware patterns, he has produced many works that resonate with modern aesthetic sensibilities through minimalist and constructive designs.

This "Tiger Sake Cup" is a masterpiece that embodies the rhythmic movement that symbolizes the power of the tiger within its milky white serenity.
When you hold it in your palm, you will feel a sense of calm welling up from within.
This work truly embodies the "strength in silence" and is a true testament to the ninth generation's talent.