Murata Jukō (Tetsuo) (村田珠光(哲夫)), Japanese, b. 1922

A Jukō Yōhen Shino Yunomi (珠光窯変志野湯呑)

Shōwa Era (1926–1989) or Heisei Era (1989–2019)

About the work

An expressive Jukō Yōhen Shino tea cup (yunomi) from the work of Murata Jukō (Tetsuo), distinguished by its tall, gently irregular form and softly mottled glaze. The surface combines pale pink, blue-grey and white with darker olive and brown passages, creating a varied composition around the vessel.

The cup has a broadly cylindrical profile, narrowing slightly beneath its subtly flaring rim. Its sides show shallow undulations and changes in contour, giving the form a tactile quality. A reddish-brown edge outlines the mouth, while a narrow band of exposed clay provides a warm contrast at the base.

Pale glaze gathers across much of the body in cloudy, overlapping patches. Pink and blue-grey areas mingle with creamy white, while darker colour becomes more prominent near the rim. Small pits and variations in glaze thickness enrich the surface, catching the light differently as the cup is turned.

The combination of restrained form and complex colour gives the yunomi an intimate character. Its taller proportions distinguish it from the other cups in this group, while the soft palette encourages close appreciation of its firing effects. Accompanied by its original wooden box.

Dimensions

9.5cm(h) x 7.7cm(w)

Weight: 260g

Footnote

Murata Jukō, also known as Murata Tetsuo (村田哲夫), was born in 1922. He trained under his father and received guidance from prominent ceramic artists including Katō Kōbei, Katō Tōkurō and Katō Hajime. His education also included visits to historic kiln sites throughout Japan, broadening his understanding of traditional pottery. He established the Shukō Tōsha pottery in Toyoyama, Aichi Prefecture, and devoted his practice to exploring kiln-induced effects in Shino glazes. His distinctive ceramics, sometimes described as Jukō-Shino, reflect a sustained interest in the colours, textures and surface variations achieved through firing. Alongside his studio work, he led the Shukō ceramics association and served as a judge for the Aichi Prefectural Cultural Exhibition.