Masafumi Yamaguchi (山口正文), Japanese (1941-2018)

A Guinomi Cup

Showa Era (1926-1989) 

About the work

This guinomi by Masafumi Yamaguchi of Nishiyama Kiln (西山窯) displays the warm, natural character typical of Seto pottery. The cup is formed with a gently rounded cylindrical body and a stable foot, creating a balanced and comfortable vessel suited for sake. The soft yellowish glaze is accented by natural iron markings and brush-like decorative elements that appear across the surface, producing a quiet yet expressive visual rhythm.

Subtle variations in glaze tone and firing marks give the piece depth and individuality. The interior retains a smooth glaze surface, while the base shows the natural clay body and the potter’s mark, emphasizing its handmade character.

The piece is accompanied by its original signed wooden box (tomobako) and documentation.

Dimensions

4.7cm(h) x 5.2cm(w)

Footnote

Masafumi Yamaguchi (1941 - 2018) was a Japanese ceramic artist from Seto and the fifth-generation head of Nishiyama Kiln in Nishikamamachi, Seto City. He received the Mayor’s Award for Japanese painting at the Seto City Exhibition and later exhibited widely as a ceramic artist. His works were accepted into major exhibitions including the Seto City Exhibition, the Contemporary Japanese Ceramics Exhibition, the Asahi Ceramic Exhibition, and the Kōfūkai Exhibition. The Nishiyama Kiln lineage continues today under the sixth-generation successor, Makoto Yamaguchi.