A beautifully restrained pair of white-glazed yunomi tea cups by Living National Treasure Shimizu Uichi enclosed in the original signed wooden box. Tall and cylindrical, each cup is subtly irregular in form, its softly rounded walls interrupted by narrow vertical ridges that extend from the rim almost to the foot. These raised lines introduce a quiet architectural rhythm to the otherwise unadorned surfaces, while the glaze thins along their edges to expose fine traces of the darker clay beneath. The lustrous white glaze has a delicate warmth, with subtle variations in tone and occasional minute iron specks. It continues smoothly into the interiors, while the undersides are left unglazed, exposing the finely textured buff-colored clay and the artist's impressed seal. The contrast between the immaculate white surfaces, linear accents, and earthy exposed feet demonstrates Shimizu's sensitivity to the relationship between form, glaze, and clay. Each cup measures approximately 6.5 cm (2-1/2 inches) in diameter and 10 cm (4 inches) tall.
Shimizu Uichi (1926-2004) was born in Kyoto the son of a ceramic dealer. Discarding the family business, he apprenticed in plastic arts under future Living National Treasure Ishiguro Munemaro. His work retains some principal elements of his teachers style while incorporating an understated elegance and avant-garde spirit of challenge uncommon for his time. He was first exhibited at the Nitten in 1951, receiving numerous awards there since. He also took the gold medal at the Prague International Exhibition, and was at the Brussels World Exposition. He is in the collection of the Tokyo National Museum, Kyoto Museum of Modern art, Clark Center and the Freer Gallery among many others.
