Sugimoto Sadamitsu (杉本貞光), Japanese (b. 1935)

A Shigaraki Ware Tea Bowl (信楽茶碗)

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

About the work

This expressive Shigaraki tea bowl by Sugimoto Sadamitsu embodies the rugged
naturalism and quiet sophistication associated with contemporary Japanese tea
ceramics. Formed with an irregular asymmetrical silhouette, the bowl displays a
dynamic organic profile with softly undulating rims and a tactile hand-built character.
The surface reveals a remarkable interplay of natural ash glaze, warm ochre and
amber tones, and crystalline feldspathic deposits produced during high-temperature
firing. Rich scorch marks and flowing kiln effects animate the exterior and interior
alike, while areas of granular texture contrast with glossy vitrified passages. The
bowl’s earthy coloration and spontaneous firing marks evoke the wabi-sabi aesthetics
central to the Japanese tea ceremony and the enduring traditions of Shigaraki ware.
The piece is accompanied by its original signed wooden storage box (tomobako).

Dimensions

6.8cm(h) x 15.5cm(w) x 12.2cm(d)

Weight: 262 g

Footnote

Sugimoto Sadamitsu (杉本貞光, b. 1935) is a celebrated Japanese ceramic
artist born in Tokyo, renowned for his exploration of traditional Japanese tea ceramics
and Momoyama-period aesthetics. In 1968, he established an anagama kiln in the
mountains of Shigaraki, later studying under the influential Zen priest Ogame Sōyu of
Daitokuji Temple, who named his kiln “Teragaito-gama” in 1976. Over the course of
his career, Sugimoto researched and produced works across a wide range of ceramic
traditions including Shigaraki, Iga, Raku, Shino, Oribe, Kohiki, and Ido wares. His
works are held in major collections including the Yale University Art Gallery, the Yuki
Museum, and the Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park. Widely exhibited internationally, he is regarded as one of the foremost contemporary masters of Japanese tea
ceramics.