An early example of Masayuki Uraguchi’s celadon, this cup was made when he was just 30 years old, only a few years after his first solo shows. Uraguchi studied ceramics at the Tokyo University of Arts under the celadon giant Miura Koheiji. You can see with this sake cup the pure blues Uraguchi managed to achieve early on. As well, the warm-toned, iron-rich clay body can be seen on the unglazed foot.

Shallow and wide, the shape of this cup is more like a sakazuki and traditionally would be used for formal occasions. But while serving well for sake, this cup would also work nicely for sencha, especially a tea whose flavour is best when not too hot, since this shallow form would allow a hot tea to cool quickly.

Comes with the signed, stamped, and titled wood box, stamped wrapping cloth and CV.