Deep clefts filled with mottled glaze are scored into the sides of this stellar sake cup by Nakagawa Jionenbo enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Chohan (Hori Madara) Karatsu Guinomi. It is 6.8 cm (2-1/2 inches) diameter, 5.5 cm (just over 2 inches) tall and in perfect condition.
Nakagawa Jinenbo (1953-2011) was a celebrated Japanese ceramic artist always fascinated with Karatsu ware. He studied under the great Inoue Toya from the age of 24. Several years later he returned to his hometown to establish a climbing kiln of his own, which he put to great use. From there, not satisfied with his own skills, he went to Tanaka Sajiro for an additional apprenticeship. Afterwards, as many Chajin artists, he concentrated on private exhibitions as an outlet for his work, shunning the world of mass competition and retail. Known for his inventive surface treatments, he applied dark brushwork onto red iron-rich clay bodies, creating dynamic, textured finishes that spoke to both tradition and spontaneity. His work features richly textured glazes and organic forms reflective of the Karatsu tradition, especially the distinctive Madara Karatsu style, noted for its mottled, natural glazes ranging from milky white to bluish or reddish hues, achieved through wood firing and experimentation with firing techniques. His life and career were cut short far too early, making his work both highly valued and hard to find.
