Kumakura Junkichi (熊倉順吉), Japanese, 1920-1985

A White Slip Guinomi (白化粧盃)

Showa Era (1926-1989)

About the work

A striking guinomi by Kumakura Junkichi, one of Japan's most distinctive ceramic artists, celebrated for his bold forms and expressive use of contrasting surfaces. This small sake cup exemplifies his innovative interpretation of traditional Japanese pottery, combining rustic simplicity with a powerful sculptural presence.

The vessel is hand formed with gently flaring sides that taper towards a compact foot, creating a comfortable and well balanced form for drinking sake. Approximately half of the exterior and interior are coated in a soft white shiro-geshō (white slip), while the remaining surface reveals the warm iron-rich clay body. The dramatic diagonal division between the white slip and the exposed clay creates a bold yet harmonious composition, highlighting the natural beauty of the materials. Fine crackles within the slip, subtle firing marks, and scattered iron specks enrich the surface, reflecting the spontaneity and individuality of the firing process.

The guinomi bears the artist's signature on the accompanying original signed wooden storage box (tomobako) and signed by the artist.

Dimensions

3.8cm(h) x 5.5cm(w)

Footnote

Kumakura Junkichi (1920–1985) was a pioneering figure in Japanese sculptural ceramics. A graduate of the Kyoto Institute of Technology, he apprenticed under Tomimoto Kenkichi before becoming a core member of the avant-garde Sōdeisha group. His works, inspired by jazz improvisation and bold artistic expression, earned him numerous accolades, including the Japan Ceramic Society Prize and international recognition at the Brussels World Exposition (1958) and the International Ceramics Exhibition in Prague (1962).