Ono Hakuko (小野珀子), Japanese, (1925–1996)

A Pair of Gold-Decorated Red and Green Sake Cups (金襴手ぐい吞み 朱杯・玉杯)

Showa Era (1926-1989)  

About the work

A magnificent pair of porcelain guinomi sake cups by Ono Hakuko, one of Japan’s foremost masters of kinrande (gold-decorated overglaze) porcelain. The pair features a red cup and a green cup, each meticulously hand-painted with intricate patterns of scrolling foliage, stylized chrysanthemums, and geometric motifs in radiant gold over richly colored enamel grounds.

Ono’s technique combines exceptional precision and opulence, producing surfaces that shimmer with layered translucence and refinement. The perfect balance of form and decoration reflects her deep mastery of color harmony and gold application.

Each cup bears the artist’s mark on the base and is accompanied by its original signed wooden storage box and cloths.

Dimensions

Green cup: 4.6cm(h) x 6cm(w)

Red cup: 3.8cm(h) x 6.4cm(w)

Footnote

Ono Hakuko (1925–1996) was born in Aichi Prefecture, the eldest daughter of Ono Kozan. She worked in her father’s design studio before pursuing her own career, winning major prizes at the Kyushu-Yamaguchi Ceramic Exhibition, the Japan Ceramic Exhibition, and the Japan Kōgei Association West Japan shows. Her works were acquired by the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, as well as museums in New Zealand, Sydney, and Argentina. In 1992, she was recognized as a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property of Saga Prefecture, cementing her reputation as a leading figure in Japanese decorative ceramics.