Iron-Painted Turtle Sake Cup by Shimizu Yasutaka - Tetsue Guinomi

Experience authentic Japanese sake culture with this Iron-Painted Turtle Sake Cup. This Tetsue Pottery guinomi serves as a Sake Cup Art piece and Iron Glaze Art work, featuring Turtle Motif Design and Shino Style form—a must-have for any collector seeking Japanese Ceramics and Kyoto Pottery craftsmanship.

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🔹 [ BASIC DETAILS ]

• Artist: Shimizu Yasutaka (清水保孝)
• Technique: Iron-oxide painting (tetsue) on Shino-style body
• Era: Contemporary (Heisei–Reiwa period)
• Origin: Kyoto, Japan
• Dimensions: Diameter approx. 7.2 cm × Height approx. 5.0 cm (2.8" × 2.0")
• Box: Tomobako (artist-signed wooden box)
• Condition: Good – no cracks, chips, or repairs
• Lineage: Son of Shimizu Uichi (Living National Treasure)

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🔹 [ CULTURAL & ARTISTIC INSIGHT ]

A bold, chunky guinomi bearing a playful turtle (kame-asobi) painted in iron oxide with confident, free brushwork across a white-grey Shino-style body. The substantial form fills the palm with satisfying weight, while the turtle—a symbol of longevity in Japanese culture—moves across the surface with unhurried grace.

Shimizu Yasutaka carries forward the iron-glaze lineage of his father, Shimizu Uichi (清水卓一), who was designated a Living National Treasure for his mastery of iron glazes. Yasutaka’s tetsue work honors that legacy while asserting his own voice—looser, more animated, alive with narrative warmth.

*"The turtle knows no urgency. It carries its world entire."*

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🔹 [ DEEP-DIVE COMMENTARY ]

**The Shimizu Legacy**: Shimizu Uichi (清水卓一) received designation as a Living National Treasure (Ningen Kokuho) for his pioneering work in iron glazes. His son Yasutaka inherited both the technique and the artistic sensibility, developing a distinctive style marked by narrative brushwork.

**Tetsue Tradition**: Iron-oxide painting (tetsue) is one of the oldest decorative techniques in Japanese ceramics. The iron pigment fires to rich brown-black tones against lighter clay bodies, creating bold contrasts that celebrate the gesture of the brush.

**Turtle Symbolism**: The kame (turtle) represents longevity, wisdom, and good fortune in Japanese culture. The playful rendering (asobi-mon) transforms a traditional symbol into something intimate and approachable.

**Contemporary Practice**: This guinomi is fully functional for daily sake enjoyment. The chunky form and iron brushwork develop subtle changes with use, as the surface absorbs traces of each pour.

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🔹 [ 日本語解説 ]

【基本情報】
• 作家：清水保孝
• 技法：鉄絵（鉄釉）・志野風素地
• 時代：現代（平成〜令和）
• 産地：京都
• 寸法：口径約7.2cm × 高さ約5.0cm
• 付属：共箱
• 状態：良好
• 系譜：父・清水卓一（人間国宝）

【解説】
清水保孝は人間国宝・清水卓一の息子として、父の鉄釉の技を受け継ぎながら独自の作風を確立しています。本作は志野風の白く柔らかな素地に、亀が遊ぶ様子を自由な筆致で描いたぐい呑みです。

亀は長寿と吉祥の象徴であり、「亀遊文」として遊び心ある表現に仵んでいます。手に収まる重厚なフォルムは、酒器としての実用性も備えた逸品です。

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🔹 [ SHIPPING & PACKAGING ]
• Dispatch: Within 1-6 business days
• Carrier: Japan Post EMS / UPS (with tracking)
• Packaging: Carefully wrapped with protective materials

*The turtle knows no urgency. It carries its world entire.*