*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 Mumyoi-ware cups made around 20-30 years ago by distinguished potter, Miura Koheiji. They are wheel thrown and decorated with dark green glaze, whilst the interior features cream coloured glaze.  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 stamp 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 stamped yellow wrapping cloths for when the cups are not in use.  *PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CHASEN TEA WHISK IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS LISTING.

Miura Koheiji (1933-2006) was a Mumyoi-ware potter and third generation master of Kodaira Gama. He is the second son of distinguished potter, Miura Kohei (Jozan II), and he was designated as a Living National Treasure in 1997. Miura has a variety of styles however he is best known for his technique of combining different tones of celadon. His desire to produce precise glazes was in part due to extensive travelling around Asia. After he returned to Japan, he sought to emulate the fine celadon wares from the Southern Song dynasty with the deep red clay from Sado Island. Throughout his career he has received several awards, his first was in 1962 when he received the Asahi Shimbun Award at the Modern Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition. In 1976 the Agency for Cultural Affairs purchased his work after he received the Minister of Education Award at the Japan Traditional Art and Crafts Exhibition. In 1985 one of his celadon vases was selected and presented to Queen Elizabeth on behalf of the Japanese Imperial family. In 1990 he was appointed professor at the Tokyo University of Arts in 1990, and promoted to professor emeritus in 2000. In 1996 he received the highly coveted Purple Ribbon Medal Award, and then appointed as a Living National Treasure one year later in 1997. He exhibited overseas in Paris and New York, and was a member of the International Association of Ceramics (IAC). **Fellow sellers, this information was researched by Kominka Zakka and CANNOT be used in your own listings.

Mumyoi-ware refers to the red clay pottery produced on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture. The clay has a high iron content and is collected from the Aikawa gold mine and surrounding mountains. Originally Mumyoi-ware was a mix of red and yellow clay. However a potter named Jozan Miura studied the art of Yixing teapot making and went onto develop his own style of tea ware using just red clay. This explains why Mumyoi-ware closely resembles Chinese Yi Xing teapot production.                                                  

Sizes

Box:  H.11cm (4.3”) x 17.5cm (6.8”) x 9.3cm (3.6”)

Large:  H.7.1cm (2.7”) x Dia.6.9cm (2.7”)

Small:  H.6.9cm (2.7”) x Dia.6.7cm (2.6”)                                                                                 

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.