*SHIPPING OPTIONS VARY DEPENDING ON THE DESTINATION, PLEASE SCROLL TO THE END OF THIS LISTING FOR MORE DETAILS.

This listing is for a pair of Shino-ware yunomi tea cups made by Important Intangible Cultural Asset potter, Andou Hidetake. They are wheel-thrown and decorated with a seasonal grass pattern. Both cups are robust and very well suited to daily use. Also these cups are what we call meoto style, meaning they are two different sizes and often referred to as a husband and wife pair. The mark of the potter can be found on the bottom of each cup, and they come with their original signed wooden storage box.  They also come with two yellow wrapping cloths for when the cups are not in use, as well as a Japanese language profile paper about the potter.

Andou Hidetake (b.1938) is a Mino-ware potter who works out of Sentaro Gama. He studied under Kato Tokuro and is best known for his exquisite Shino wares. His work was selected for the prestigious Japan Traditional Craft Exhibition in 1964, followed by the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition in 1971. His first award came in 1973 when he received the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition Encouragement Award in 1973. He then became a regular member of the Japan Arts Crafts Association in 1974, and in 2003 he was officially designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Asset of Gifu Prefecture. **Fellow sellers, this information was researched by Kominka Zakka and CANNOT be used in your own listings.

Shino-ware is stoneware coated with a white feldspar glaze. It is grouped with Seto-ware and Oribe-ware and is collectively known as Mino-ware. Shino-ware is characterized by red scorch marks and the surface is dotted with small pin holes. Simple designs using iron oxide are applied first and these are later coated with the feldspar glaze. Pieces can be grey, red, or white; owing to how thick or thin the feldspar is applied, and also how the atmosphere of the kiln has affected the high iron content. The actual production method may also lend a hand in this. Pieces are generally fired at lower temperatures and allowed a slow cooling process. This produces the wonderful crawling pattern that Shino-ware is well known for.

Sizes

Box:  H.9cm (3.5”) x 17.3cm (6.8”) x 12.8cm (5”)

Larger Cup:  H.9.4cm (3.7”) x Dia.6.7cm (2.6”)

Smaller Cup:  H.9.1cm (3.5”) x Dia.6.3cm (2.4”)

Condition
Both cups are in very good condition with no chips or cracks.

THESE ARE SHIPPING ESTIMATES BASED ON THE CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION                                                                 

**Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia:  NO SHIPPING.  Very strict and expensive packaging laws in place and we are not licensed to send products to these countries.  We have no plan to register at this time because the process is in some cases very expensive and complicated, plus each country has its own set of regulations and application process. 

**USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway: Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-28 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Asia:  Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-21 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Central Asia, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico:  EMS Express 10-15 days.

**Russia:  No shipping methods available.