Moriwaki Hiroyuki Bizen Saiku Guinomi with Dragon, Paulownia Box

An unglazed Bizen sake cup by sculptor-potter Moriwaki Hiroyuki, with a finely modelled dragon coiled on top.

Bizen, fired without glaze in wood-burning kilns at Imbe in Okayama, is one of Japan's six ancient kilns, and alongside its jars and cups it has a long tradition of saikumono, small sculpted figures. Moriwaki Hiroyuki has worked only in saikumono for 35 years, concentrating on lions and dragons. He studied under Suzuki Tsuneki, has been selected repeatedly for the Okayama Prefectural Exhibition between 2003 and 2022, and in 2019 dedicated a pair of Bizen komainu to Hirohata Hachimangu shrine. The dealer describes the dragon here as looking ready to move. A single piece; the paulownia box is made to order and adds 1–2 weeks.

Details

• Artist: Moriwaki Hiroyuki (森脇弘行), Bizen
• Title: Ryū guinomi (龍ぐい呑)
• Material: unglazed Bizen stoneware
• Size: approx. 7.5 cm wide × 6 cm high; 135 g; approx. 90 ml
• Box: paulownia box (桐箱), made after order
• Condition: new

Watch: how Bizen ware is made and wood-fired

A film on Bizen, one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns, from the official Six Ancient Kilns Japan Heritage council channel. (A general craft video — not this piece or maker.)

Please read before ordering

• One of a kind. We confirm availability with the dealer in Japan within one business day of your order; if it has sold we refund in full immediately.
• Ships from New Jersey in 2–3 weeks. Price includes all import duties. Fully insured, signature required.
• Professionally double-boxed for shipping.