White glaze silver brushed sake cup by Okada Yu

Width: 10.1cm Height: 5.3cm

White glazed silver brushed sake cup

- Created by Masaru Okada -

Work summary

This is a white-glazed sake cup with silver brush marks, created by Okada Masaru, who has a kiln in the Uji coal mines of Kyoto. The silver-gray brush marks run diagonally across the soft white porcelain surface, symbolically expressing the contrast between stillness and movement. The balance between the linear body, reminiscent of an upside-down mortar, and the lightly carved foot is excellent, making this an ambitious piece that combines a modern sense of form with the wabi-sabi aesthetic of tea ware.

Glaze and Technique

White glaze composition : Made primarily from feldspar and silica with a small amount of titanium oxide added, it achieves a slightly warm milky white color.

Silver brush marks : Silver engraving, a mixture of silver oxide and clay, is brushed onto leather-hard surfaces. After firing, the color changes from pale silver gray to pale brown, and depending on the light, it takes on a slight metallic sheen.

Firing control : By adjusting the amount of oxygen towards the end of the process and keeping the silver slightly oxidized, we achieve a soft silver color that stands out against the clean white.

Historical and cultural background

Brushed decoration is a traditional technique seen on white porcelain from the Yi Dynasty and Kohiki ware from the early Edo period, but by using silver veneer it is possible to express both a modern luster and a sense of wabi-sabi. Okada Masaru has applied his knowledge of material control cultivated through his research into the kiln-change process of Tenmoku glaze, and by fusing the serenity of white with the dynamism of silver, he has presented his own unique aesthetic of "movement in the white space."

Aesthetic Intention and Spirituality

The silver brush marks evoke lightning and flowing water, imprinting momentary movement on the tranquil white porcelain. The essence of this work lies in Ichijo's visualisation of the Zen proposition of "making the moment eternal" through his brushstrokes. When sake is poured into the cup, the surface of the liquid reflects the traces of the brush marks, and as the drink progresses, patterns appear and disappear - these changes heighten the feeling of "once in a lifetime."

How to use and points to note

Suitable for ginjo and daiginjo : The wide shape brings out the delicate aroma.

Light source effect : The brush marks are soft in natural light, and the silver gray reflects brightly under spotlights.

Also great as a serving dish : It also looks great as a small bowl for delicacies and sweets, adding a modern accent to your table setting.

This sake cup, which captures the silence of white and the flash of silver in one cup, embodies the "beauty of white space" and "momentary movement" advocated by Okada Masaru. We hope you will savor the momentary beauty created by the interweaving of sake and light in your palm and immerse yourself in the deep aftertaste.