Kohiki sencha-yunomi tea cup, hand-thrown by Toida Takatsugu (筧田孝嗣) at Jintsū-kama in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. Signed paulownia tomobako and printed tōreki (artist biography card) included. Likely produced in the late 1980s — vintage, not antique.
What this is
A small cylindrical tea cup in the kohiki (粉引) tradition: a coat of white slip applied over iron-rich red clay, then sealed under a soft, slightly crackled transparent glaze. Where the slip thins, the dark clay shows through in muted blue-grey and warm earth tones. The unglazed foot reveals the raw red body — the signature kohiki "reveal".
At 7.3 cm tall × 5.2 cm at the mouth (approximately 120 mL), this is a sencha-yunomi — sized for premium green teas (sencha, gyokuro, hojicha) where a small portion is part of the brewing ritual, not a casual everyday large pour.
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Form: sencha-yunomi (small yunomi, premium-tea size)
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Technique: kohiki (white slip on stoneware) — one of the artist's three documented specialties (粉引・灰釉・柿釉)
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Era: Showa late period, c. late 1980s (tōreki dated through 昭和63 / 1988)
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Made by Toida Takatsugu / Jintsū-kama in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, curated by ZenKiln
What makes this piece notable
Toida Takatsugu (b. 1943, Toyama-shi Tsukahara) trained under two influential figures in postwar Japanese ceramics:
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Yoshida Kōzō (art critic) — pottery instruction from 1970
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Shimizu Uichi — pottery instruction from 1978 in Kyoto. Shimizu Uichi was designated a Living National Treasure (Ningen Kokuhō) for iron-glaze stoneware in 1985.
Selected highlights from his recorded chronology (source: tōreki):
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1980 — first selection, Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition; consecutively selected 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983
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1980 — full member, Japan Kogei Association
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1981 — Mainichi Newspaper Award, 6th Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition; large kohiki and ash-glaze vessels acquired by Toyama Prefecture and Toyama City Local History Museum
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1984 — Toyama Prefecture presented his large ceramic vessel to former US President Jimmy Carter
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1986 — large vessel presented to Prince Takamado; ash-glaze and kohiki flower vessels presented to the Brazilian and Canadian ambassadors
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1988 — pieces presented to four Imperial households (Takamatsu, Hitachi, Mikasa, Takamado)
The piece you receive is signed at three points: the tomobako lid calligraphy "粉引 湯くみ 孝嗣" with red seal, the printed tōreki card, and the artist's red square stamp on the box. Three-point provenance closure.
Dimensions (this exact hand-thrown piece, measured)
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Height: 7.3 cm (2.9")
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Mouth diameter: 5.2 cm (2.0") external
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Foot diameter: 4.5 cm (1.8")
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Capacity: approximately 120 mL (≈ 4 fl oz) when filled to ~1 cm below the rim — sencha-yunomi class, sized for premium green tea
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Tomobako (signed paulownia kiribako): 10.4 × 7.4 cm (4.1" × 2.9")
Because each piece is hand-thrown, dimensions vary slightly between examples in the same artist's line. The numbers above are this exact piece, measured.
How to use / who it's for
- Premium green tea (sencha, gyokuro, hojicha) where small portions are part of the ritual — the slip surface deepens with use (yō-no-bi: beauty grown through use)
- A tea-ceremony chair-meeting (椅子点前) accent piece
- A collector's reference example of post-1970s kohiki by a documented Japan Kogei Association member
- A father's day or retirement gift for a tea person, art-pottery collector, or anyone with a Shimizu Uichi / Living National Treasure interest
Condition
Excellent vintage condition. The fine iron freckles, slip drip patterns, soft-grey transitions, and unglazed foot reveal are all intentional features of kohiki — not flaws. No chips, no hairlines visible. Buyer is encouraged to read the supplied photographs carefully — what looks like a "spot" is almost certainly a fired iron point, which is the technique working as intended.
Care
- Hand-wash with warm water and a soft cloth. Avoid abrasive sponges.
- Microwave / dishwasher safety not certified by the artist; we recommend hand-wash only for any signed studio piece of this age.
- If the slip absorbs tea over years, that is normal and considered desirable in kohiki — it is the cup's record of being used.
What you receive
- 1 × kohiki sencha-yunomi (the cup)
- 1 × signed paulownia tomobako (kiribako) with brush calligraphy + red seal
- 1 × printed tōreki (artist biography card)
- ZenKiln care card
About ZenKiln
A Japan-based curator connecting international collectors with Japan's artisan ceramic tradition. We work closely with the kilns, workshops, and makers featured in our shop — each one disclosed in our About section — and hand-pack every piece in Japan for safe delivery worldwide.
Shipping
Ships from Japan within 1–3 business days, hand-packed with the original tomobako. International tracking included. Buyers outside Japan are responsible for any local customs duties.
