Sake cup, Dog, by Dohachi Takahashi

Width: 6.1cm Height: 4.5cm

A tranquil sake cup wrapped in a soft white glaze. This work is an "Inumon" sake cup by Takahashi Michihachi IX. A continuous pattern, an abstraction of an ancient symbolic design, runs around the rim and emerges on the milky white glaze, like words of prayer engraved in light. Below, we will introduce its charm in detail from five perspectives.

1. Beauty of form - neat composition and gentle roundness

The rim curves slightly outwards and the body is softly bulging. The base is slightly tapered, giving the piece a sense of lightness while stabilizing the center of gravity. The shape of the vessel appears simple at first glance, but the slight variations in the lines give it a dignified presence. When you hold it in your palm, the warmth of the ceramic surface gently reaches your fingertips, allowing you to experience the "beauty in the hand" that is characteristic of Dohachike.

2. Glaze Tone - Shadows of light reflected on the milky white glaze

The glaze is applied rather thickly, giving it a milky white sheen that changes appearance as light reflects off it. The glaze becomes slightly thinner from the body to the foot, allowing the reddish clay to show through slightly, creating a warm shadow effect. Fine crazing runs through the surface, and over time, tea and sake soak into the glaze, allowing you to enjoy the "development of the scenery" as it gains more elegance.

3. Design - Protection and loyalty embodied in the "dog design"

The pattern around the bottom of the rim is a dog design based on ancient pictograms. Alternating sharp engraved lines create an abstract form that creates a rhythmic movement. Since ancient times, the dog has been considered a guardian deity, a symbol of protection for homes and people, and the pattern embodies this deity's loyalty and sincerity. In this piece, this spirituality is quietly integrated into the purity of the white glaze.

4. Technique: Relief expression through the harmony of engraved lines and glaze

After the clay is shaped on a potter's wheel, the pattern is engraved, one stroke at a time, with an iron stylus while the clay is drying. When the glaze is applied, a thin layer of glaze flows into the engraved lines, and the shadows emerge during firing, creating a three-dimensional effect like a delicate relief. The rhythm of the engraved lines and the transparent layer of glaze blend beautifully, creating an appearance that is both decorative and tranquil.

5. Historical and Cultural Background - Symbolism of the Zodiac Designs

The twelve zodiac patterns originate from the Chinese zodiac idea and were widely used as decorative patterns on tableware and incense holders during the Nara and Heian periods. In the world of Kyoto ware, they are also incorporated into tea utensils and sake cups, with the meaning of the seasons, directions, and protection. The "dog" is the directional deity that protects the northwest, and is a symbol of sincerity, protection, and trust. Takahashi Dohachi, the ninth generation, has reconstructed this classic pattern not simply as a design, but as a spiritual motif.

The ninth generation Takahashi Michihachi studied fashion design before moving on to ceramics, studying under the eighth generation in 1996. He succeeded to the name of the ninth generation in 2012. He is known for his style, which combines the tradition of Kyoto ware with a modern sense of form, and seeks a balance between serenity and decoration.

This "Guinomi Dog" is a masterpiece in which the engraved pattern floats as if breathing within the tranquility of the milky white glaze.
When held in the palm of your hand, the presence of the dog, a symbol of loyalty and protection, resonates as if quietly watching over the time.
This is a pure sake cup that is suitable for long-lasting use, whether as an everyday sake cup or as part of a tea ceremony.