Sato Kazuhiko (佐藤和彦), Japanese, b.1947

A Guinomi with Carved Iron-Oxide Glaze Motif (錆化瓷彫文ぐい呑)

Showa Era (1926-1989), Heisei Era (1989-2019) or Reiwa Era (2019-present)

About the work

A distinctive guinomi (sake cup) by Sato Kazuhiko, featuring a bold carved motif and finished in a unique iron-oxide glaze (錆化瓷). The surface design evokes the silhouette of layered waves, hand-carved in rhythmic relief and accentuated by a rustic blue-gray glaze with subtle depth and texture.

The cup’s upper portion is coated in a smooth ash-toned glaze, offering contrast to the richly textured lower body. The irregular rim and hand-formed contour reflects the artist’s pursuit of expressive form rooted in the aesthetics of nature and imperfection. 

This piece comes in its original signed tomobako (wooden box), underscoring its authenticity and collectible value.

Dimensions

4.8cm x 7.3cm(w) x 7cm(d)

Footnote

Sato Kazuhiko, born in 1947 in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, is a distinguished Japanese ceramic artist and graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts. He studied under celebrated masters Fujimoto Yoshimichi and Tamura Koichi, and received the Salon de Printemps Award upon completing his graduate studies. Known for his carved and textured surfaces, Sato has exhibited extensively across Japan and internationally since the 1970s, including in New York, London, and Sydney. His works explore the expressive possibilities of clay through sculptural form and innovative surface techniques, blending traditional craftsmanship with a modern artistic vision.