Kitajima Shigemitsu Guinomi 50 ml

Guinomi, stoneware 

This guinomi by Kitajima Shigemitsu was fired in a traditional noborigama (登り窯), a wood-fired climbing kiln. Its small, compact form and fire-marked surface give the sake cup a particularly primal character.

The body of the vessel displays warm reddish-brown earth tones that transition into golden-yellow and olive hues toward the rim. There, fly ash settled during firing and fused with the surface. Dark, almost black traces break through this lighter area, creating a lively, naturally formed interplay of colors. The effects of the wood firing are also clearly visible on the inside: brown, ochre, and golden tones blend irregularly into one another and are crisscrossed by small dark scorch marks.

Decorative painting is completely omitted. Instead, the clay, flame, ash, and the vessel's position in the noborigama determine its appearance. 

The slightly irregular form and natural scorch marks make the guinomi a unique piece. It embodies Kitajima Shigemitsu's close engagement with traditional Echizen ceramics, in which the properties of the clay and the partially uncontrollable processes of wood firing are essential elements of the design.