Kato Seizo (加藤清三), Japanese (1930-1979)

A Set of Five Shino Yunomi (志野焼 湯呑 五客) 

Showa Era (1926-1989)

About the work

This set of five Shino yunomi by Kato Seizo of exemplifies the quiet warmth and restrained elegance of classical Mino Shino ware. Each cup is wheel-thrown with a gently rounded profile and a slightly softened rim, conveying a calm and functional balance. The creamy feldspathic Shino glaze pools subtly inside the vessels and breaks at the lip to reveal a warm iron blush. Fine pinholing, soft glaze crawling and faint fire marks animate the surfaces, while the unglazed foot interiors expose the coarse, sandy clay typical of the region. Though closely related, each cup displays individual variation, reflecting hand production and natural kiln effects. 

The set is accompanied by its original signed wooden box and printed insert.

Dimensions

Each cup: 6cm(h) x 6.5cm(w)

Footnote

Born in 1930, Kato Seizo was a direct descendant of the renowned Mino pottery lineage. He became the 13th-generation head of the Kato family after the passing of his adoptive father, Kato Shirozaemon Kagemasa, in 1972. His work was frequently exhibited at prestigious events such as the Asahi Ceramic Exhibition, the Traditional Craft Exhibition, and the Japan Ceramic Exhibition, earning him recognition for his refined approach to Shino and Mino ware before his untimely passing in 1979.