Michio Koinuma (肥沼美智雄) Japanese (1936-2021)

An Oribe Tokkuri Sake Flask (織部 徳利)

Showa Era (1926–1989) or Heisei Era (1989–2019)

About the work

A striking Oribe sake flask by Michio Koinuma, showcasing his celebrated fusion of sculptural form and traditional aesthetics. This tokkuri features a robust, slightly asymmetrical body with a sharply flared spout, conveying the handmade energy and spontaneity central to Koinuma's work.

The surface is coated in a deep, translucent green Oribe glaze that cascades over textured clay ridges, pooling into glossy emerald accents along the shoulder and lip. Areas of exposed, iron-rich clay and subtle brushwork offer a rustic counterbalance, highlighting the dynamic interplay between glaze and earth.

Presented with its original tomobako (signed wooden box), this piece functions both as a refined sake vessel and a collectible work of ceramic art.

Dimensions

17cm(h) x 8cm(w) x 7cm(d)

Footnote

Michio Koinuma was a Japanese potter born in Tokyo who initially pursued studies in politics and economics before turning to ceramics. At the age of 33, he relocated to Mashiko, where he established his own kiln—drawing inspiration from the legacy of Shoji Hamada. His works are noted for their meditative surfaces and fine gray ash deposits, evoking the quiet gravitas of archaeological relics and religious artifacts from across East Asia. Koinuma’s disciplined, architecturally-influenced forms reflect a deep reverence for material and process. He lived and worked in Mashiko until his passing in 2021.