Shibuya Deishi (渋谷泥詩), Japanese (1927–2017)

A Hagi Ware Guinomi (萩焼ぐい呑)

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

About the work

A refined Hagi ware guinomi by Shibuya Deishi, embodying the quiet elegance and natural beauty characteristic of this historic ceramic tradition. The form is gently faceted, with soft planes that create subtle variations in light and shadow, enhancing the tactile presence of the piece.

The surface is covered in a creamy white glaze that flows organically over the body, revealing areas of warm, iron-rich clay beneath. Fine pinholes and natural speckling emerge through the glaze, while delicate blushes of pinkish-orange appear near the base, a hallmark of Hagi ware known as “gohonte.” The slightly irregular rim and soft pooling of glaze contribute to the vessel’s understated, wabi-sabi aesthetic.

The base bears the artist’s impressed seal, and the piece is accompanied by its original signed wooden box (tomobako) and descriptive leaflet.

Dimensions

5.7cm(h) x 6.3cm(w) x 6.7cm(d)

Footnote

Shibuya Deishi (1927–2017) was a distinguished Japanese ceramic artist of Hagi ware, who worked in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. He established and led his own kiln, Odaiba-gama, where he produced works rooted in the traditional aesthetics of the tea ceremony. His ceramics are noted for balancing the spiritual sensibility of chanoyu with a refined contemporary expression, earning wide appreciation among tea practitioners and collectors alike.