Shoichi Gyo (掌一行), Japanese

A Mino Chawan 

Showa 52 (1977)

About the work

A finely crafted Mino ware tea bowl by Shoichi Gyo, produced at the Horin-ji kiln. The vessel reflects the rustic refinement of Mino tradition, its form and glaze balancing quiet simplicity with depth.

The surface is coated in a feldspathic glaze over an earthy clay body, enriched by natural ash deposits and subtle firing variations. Interior and exterior markings lend texture and movement, while the broad form and sturdy foot enhance its presence as a tea vessel.

The chawan is accompanied by its original signed tomobako (wooden storage box), inscribed in bold calligraphy by the artist’s father, the painter-calligrapher Shukusambo (粛粲寶), and dated to Showa 52 (1977).

Dimensions

7.4cm(h) x 13cm(w)

Footnote

This work represents a collaboration between father and son. Shoichi Gyo (掌一行) created the chawan, while his father Shukusambo (Mizushima Taichiro, 1902–1997), renowned for his literati-inspired paintings and Buddhist-infused calligraphy, inscribed the tomobako. The combination of Gyo’s ceramic artistry and Shukusambo’s inscription unites two generations and two art forms—pottery and literati calligraphy—into a single cultural expression.