Nakazato Kenta
Kumidashi Petal Cup
Description
This exquisite tiny cup with the shape of a petal was made following the Kohiki pottery style (White Slipware). It is a perfect example of the “80-20” principle celebrated in Japan: any pottery is 80% the creation of the potter master, and 20% how its owner uses it.
Indeed, with each brew, the glaze of this cup will absorb a little bit of the tea poured inside it. The color will gradually change over time, making each and single cup a truly unique piece – almost a living, organic creation.
This sense of uniqueness is enhanced by the fact that the cup is dipped by hand into the glaze. The foot of each cup is slightly different from one another and sometimes, you can even see the fingerprint of the potter who held it.
Handmade by Nakazato Kenta in Karatsu, from the Ryutagama kiln in Karatsu, Saga. About Kohiki ware: Kohiki ware is produced by applying a white slip over a leather hard high iron clay body.
After drying, a thin layer of clear ash glaze is applied. Kohiki was one of the pottery techniques used for Korean Goryeo period tea bowls.
Dimensions & Capacity:
Height: 6.8cm
Diameter: 4.1cm
Capacity: 50ml
Artist Information
Nakazato Taki and Nakazato Kenta
Belonging to the established pottery lineage of the Nakazato family, Nakazato Taki (born in 1965) and his son Kenta (born in 1993) make pottery at their Ryutagama kiln together, working side by side. Taki san runs the kiln today, after inheriting it from his father Takashi.
While the famous name「Nakazato」brings many expectations that may be a burden sometimes, Taki san just concentrates on keeping calm and creating pots, largely ignoring the pressure. As for Kenta san, he always envisions the scene where the food is to be served, and people around the table with smiles on their faces, as he creates new expressions of Karatsu ware. Each of his dishes conveys his free and relaxed sensibility, reflecting his upbringing in a family deeply in love with food. The pottery and porcelain made at the Ryutagama kiln pots are not decorative but functional. They are pieces made to add depth to daily life, with a minimal design and lack of ostentation. Known throughout Japan for the quality of their wares, the potters at Ryutagama uses wheel thrown technique that has been passed down for generations in Karatsu, using wood fired kiln as well as gas fired.
