Sasaki Jirō, Zuikō kiln — Setoguro tea bowl with tomobako. A Seto Black chawan by Sasaki Jirō (佐々木二郎) of the Zuikō kiln (瑞光窯) in Toki, Gifu — the heart of the Mino ceramic tradition. This handmade Japanese tea bowl carries a glossy jet-black iron glaze with striking yōhen (kiln-change) effects: patches of blue-grey and iridescent brown surface through the darkness. A Mino ware chawan of the Heisei era, shaped in the classic cylindrical form with visible faceting from the potter's fingers.
Setoguro (瀬戸黒) is among the most demanding techniques in Mino ware. The bowl is pulled from the kiln at peak temperature and rapidly cooled — hikidashi — locking the iron glaze into its glossy black state before it can crystallize. The result is a surface alive with tension: controlled chaos preserved in glass. Where the glaze thins over finger marks and ridges, the fire's passage becomes visible in blue-grey bloom and brown iridescence.
The white unglazed foot ring stands in stark contrast against the dark body, grounding the form and revealing the Mino stoneware clay beneath.
Sasaki Jirō (b. 1954) trained at art school before establishing the Zuikō kiln in Toki city. His work has been recognized with the Nissin Shokuhin Contemporary Ceramics Award and the Menbachi Grand Prize, among others. He has exhibited at department stores and galleries across Japan.
■ Provenance & Condition Accompanied by the artist's tomobako (signed wooden box) inscribed 「瀬戸黒 茶盌」 with 「瑞光窯」 red seal. Includes artist CV pamphlet and cloth wrapping. Condition is excellent with no chips, cracks, or repairs.
■ Dimensions Width: 12.0 cm Height: 8.0 cm
■ Artist: Sasaki Jirō (佐々木二郎), Zuikō kiln (瑞光窯) ■ Origin: Toki, Gifu, Japan (Mino region) ■ Material: Mino stoneware with iron glaze (Setoguro) ■ Era: Heisei period
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