Ryoji Koie (鯉江良二), Japanese, 1938–2020

A Hikidashi-guro Guinomi (引出し黒 ぐい呑み)

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

About the work

This guinomi by Ryoji Koie exemplifies the raw physicality and experimental spirit that define his work. Formed with a compact, slightly distorted silhouette, the cup carries a powerful presence despite its small scale. The surface is finished in hikidashi-guro (pulled black), a traditional technique in which the vessel is removed from the kiln at high temperature and rapidly cooled, producing deep, lustrous black tones with subtle variations.

The glaze pools unevenly across the surface, revealing flashes of ash, earthy browns, and occasional lighter marks that testify to the intensity of the firing process. The texture is tactile and expressive, encouraging close handling and contemplation. Balanced in the hand, this guinomi functions beautifully as a sake cup while standing as a concentrated sculptural object.

It is accompanied by its original wooden storage box and cloth, confirming authenticity and careful preservation.

Dimensions

6.8cm(h) x 6.5cm(w) x 6cm(d)

Footnote

Ryoji Koie (1938–2020) was born in Aichi Prefecture and trained in ceramics at Tokoname High School and the Tokoname Municipal Ceramic Research Institute. A central figure in postwar Japanese ceramics, he co-founded the Tokoname Formative Group and built his own anagama kiln in 1975. Koie was a member of the International Academy of Ceramics and taught for many years at Aichi University of the Arts. Actively exhibited internationally, including at the Denver Art Museum and the Centre Pompidou, he received numerous honors such as the Vallauris International Grand Prize, the Oribe Prize, and the Japan Ceramic Society Gold Award.