Guinomi Guinomi Made of Bizen Ware by Atsushi Ota, Faceted

With its faceted walls (mentori) and a glossy, deep red to dark brown natural ash deposit (shizen-yū), this guinomi of Bizen ware shows its powerful, original side. The rim is slightly drawn inward and irregular; the rough, grainy, in places warmly shimmering surface results from the natural reaction of the iron-rich clay with the kiln ash during the days-long firing.

Bizen is one of the six old pottery towns of Japan and deliberately forgoes any glaze in order to let the pure effect of clay and fire come into its own. The faceted, self-contained shape of this guinomi gives it a pleasant, well-balanced feel when drinking.

This guinomi comes from Ota Atsushi and is delivered in a wooden box signed by the master potter. As a handcrafted unique work, it is a stylish companion for enjoying sake.