Size: 7 cm across rim, 4 cm tall

Condition: Sake cup in mint condition. Tomobako box with minor scratches.

This lovely cup is hand thrown in porcelain and finished with lovely glazes in Kutani colours, blue, purple and yellow, which fuse together in the manner for which Yasokichi Tokuda III is particularly well known. The tomobako box (which has no ribbon and is not fitted for one) is signed Kutani Yasokichi, with the seal mark Kutani Yasokichi and "sake cup". The cup itself is signed Masahiko. The yellow cloth for the bow is present.

Tokuda Yasokichi III (1933-2009) (birth name Masahiko) is one of the world's most famous Kutani Potters. Yasokichi III was born in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, where he helped his father Tokuda Yasokichi II pursue the family ceramic business that was established by his grandfather Tokuda Yasokichi I. Adopting traditional Kutani methods handed down from his family, Yasokichi III sought to develop a unique style with his saiyu glaze (vivid enamel glaze) technique which allowed him to produce pieces with jewel-like surfaces, decorated with delicate shading and colour contrasts. In 1997, he was designated a Living National Treasure for his contribution to Japanese ceramics and his mastery of the saiyu glaze technique. His honours include the acceptance into the Issui-kai Pottery and Porcelain Exhibition (1958), and multiple prizes such as the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Association Chairman's Award (1977), the Grand Prize of the International Pottery and Porcelain Exhibition (1990), and the Medal with Purple Ribbon given by the Emperor of Japan (1993). He is succeeded by his daughter Tokuda Yasokichi IV.