Takeharu Kobayashi (小林武春), Japanese (b. 1943)

A Red Shino Yunomi Tea Cup (赤志野湯呑)

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

About the work

A richly textured red Shino yunomi by Takeharu Kobayashi, exhibiting the warm, spontaneous qualities of Mino ware in a modest yet expressive form. The cup’s body flares gently outward with an organic undulation, lending a soft rhythm to its otherwise compact silhouette.
The surface is coated in a soft feldspar glaze, beneath which rich red iron oxides bloom across the body in flame-like sweeps. Scattered pinholing and micro-pitting add depth and tactility to the creamy white glaze, while the rim and interior glow with reddish blushes from the firing process. The base is left exposed, revealing the coarse, sandy clay and clear evidence of wheel-throwing.
Accompanied by its original signed tomobako (wooden box) and certificate, this yunomi is a meditative object, equally suited for daily tea or thoughtful display.

Dimensions

10cm(h) x 8.5cm(w)

Footnote

Born in 1943 in Toki City, Gifu Prefecture, a historical center of Mino pottery, Takeharu Kobayashi established his kiln, Chikurin-gama, in Hida in 1970. He is celebrated for his expertise in Shino ware and his bold, individualistic style. Alongside traditional Shino and Nezumi Shino, he has developed original variations such as Murasaki Shino (purple), Hisai Shino (scarlet), and Akebono Shino (dawn). Throughhis dedication to form, glaze, and the spirit of Mino ceramics, Kobayashi continues to expand the expressive potential of Shino ware.