The surface of this Chawan by Sakai Kobu seems molten, as if still glowing red in the kiln. It comes enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Nezumi Shino Chawan. It is 12 cm (4-3/4 inches) diameter, 9.5 cm (just less than 4 inches) tall and in perfect condition.
Sakai Kobu (b. 1936) has dedicated himself to the reproduction of Momoyama Shino, thoroughly researching traditional Mino materials and techniques. His work not only replicates these materials but also pursues traditional tools and methods. The Shino ware he produces possesses the rustic and powerful forms characteristic of Momoyama pottery, combined with the soft and smooth texture of the feldspar glaze. Notably, his so-called Nezumi-Shino technique, which involves applying feldspar glaze over an oni-ita undercoat, achieves a glaze color that is skillfully varied, creating a unique Shino world that goes beyond merely reproducing Momoyama Shino.
