*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 Tsukiyono-ware yunomi tea cups made around 25 years ago by noted potter, Fukuda Yutaro II.  They are wheel-thrown and coated in blue coloured glaze.  These cups are made of high-fired stoneware and are suitable for 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 signature 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. 

Tsukiyono-ware refers to pottery produced in Minakami town in Gunma Prefecture.  It was developed by Fukuda Yutaro II who was visiting his wife’s parents in the area.  They informed him that an abundance of clay was found during the construction of the Joetsu shinkansen line in 1975.  A year later he moved to Minakami and established Yutaro Gama along the banks of the Tone River.  Tsukiyono-ware features copper red ‘cinnabar’ and green glazes produced through reduction firings.  Currently there are around five Tsukiyono kilns in the area. 

Fukuda Yutaro II (1921-1998) was a Tsukiyono-ware potter and first generation master of Yutaro Gama.  He was born into a well known potter family in Hasami city in Nagasaki Prefecture, and studied Hasami pottery techniques from his father and grandfather.   When he was 14 years old he travelled to China and Korea to learn more about cinnabar glazes and underglaze painting techniques.  He was the second generation master of his father’s kiln in Hasami, however later in life he moved to Minakami and established Yutaro Gama.  He is best known for his bright red copper and celadon glazed pieces, and he developed a special textured glaze called ‘seido’.  He also produced a lot of hand-painted pieces often featuring flower patterns and calligraphy using traditional underglaze painting techniques, and these were inspired by his mother who was a painter.  Yutaro II was former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone’s (born in Gunma Prefecture) favourite potter, he often attended Fukuda’s exhibition and purchased various pieces for his personal collection.  Minakami city opened the Fukuda Yutaro Memorial Hall in 1977, and a monument for his father, Fukuda Yutaro I, can be found in Hasami city in Nagasaki.  Yutaro Gama was succeeded by Yutaro II’s daughter Fukuda Kazumi (born 1965), and his son Fukuda Nami (b.1966).  **Fellow sellers, this information was researched by Kominka Zakka and CANNOT be used in your own listings.                   

Sizes

Box:  H.11cm (4.3”) x 17.5cm (6.8”) x 9.4cm (3.7”)

Larger:  H.8.6cm (3.3”) x Dia.7cm (2.7”)

Smaller:  H.7.7cm (3”) 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.