Shimizu Uichi (清水卯一) Japanese, 1926-2004

A Pair of “Horai” White-Glazed Teacups (蓬莱白彩湯呑)

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

About the work

A serene pair of teacups by Living National Treasure Shimizu Uichi, showcasing his signature Horai white glaze. The softly pooled glaze, flowing over the reddish clay body, creates an ethereal mist-like effect—an aesthetic of quiet harmony deeply characteristic of Shimizu’s later works. The delicate contrast between the matte and translucent surfaces evokes both strength and tranquility, hallmarks of his mastery in kiln atmosphere and clay response.

Each cup bears the artist’s impressed seal beneath, and the pair is housed in the original signed tomobako (wooden storage box) with inscription and paper insert.

Dimensions

Larger cup – 10cm(h) × 7.5cm(w) x 7.2cm(d)
Smaller cup – 9cm(h) × 7.5cm(w) x 7.2cm(d)

Footnote

Shimizu Uichi (1926–2004) was born in Kyoto to a family dealing in Kyo ware. At age 14, he began studying under master potter Ishiguro Munemaro and later trained at the Kyoto Ceramic Research Institute. A founding member of avant-garde groups such as Shikokai and Ryokokai, Shimizu helped modernize postwar Japanese ceramics while remaining deeply rooted in tradition. In 1970, he established the Horai Kiln at the base of Mount Horai in Shiga, from which this series takes its name. Designated a Living National Treasure in 1985 for iron-glazed stoneware, he received numerous honors, including the Medal with Purple Ribbon (1986) and the Kyoto City Cultural Merit Award (1992). His works are held in major museum collections in Japan and abroad.