*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 Shigaraki yunomi style tea cups made around 30 years ago by noted potter, Okuda Chuzaemon.  They are wheel-thrown and wood-fired in a noborigama climbing kiln.  The front of each cup has pine fly ash markings and the backs are scorched red due to the intensity of the flames during the firing process.  They come with their original signed wooden storage box, please note that these cups are not stamped or signed on the bottom. 

Okuda Chuzaemon (b.1919) was a Shigaraki-ware potter who hails from the famous Okuda family of potters.  He studied under his father and took over as head of the family kiln in 1959. He won numerous awards at prefectural exhibitions, and later in life he was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure 7^th Class from the Emperor.  He held several solo exhibitions at the Tokyo branches of Daimaru and Takashimaya department store, and is best known for his vases and teaware.  **Fellow sellers, this information was researched by Kominka Zakka and CANNOT be used in your own listings.

Shigaraki-ware refers to pottery made in Shiga Prefecture. Shigaraki is perhaps one of the more well-known types of stoneware with its origins dating back to the Kamakura period. The Shiga region is home to one of the six oldest kilns in Japan, and this is because of its superb clay. It has a reddish-orange colour, along with a natural ash glaze acquired from the deposit of ashes in the kilns. Pieces of quartz, feldspar or silica can often be found on the surface, giving Shigaraki a wonderful gritty texture and rustic charm. Historically potters produced wares specifically for the tea ceremony, however craftsmen gradually shifted to producing items such as vases and sake bottles as well.

Sizes

Box:  H.9.8cm (3.8”) x 18.2cm (7.1”) x 10.8cm (4.2”)

Cups:  H.7.8cm (3”) x Dia.6.2cm (2.4”) and H.7.5cm (2.9”) x Dia.6.1cm (2.4”)

Condition

Both cups are in very good condition with no chips or cracks, the box however has some marks on the exterior (please see the last photo). 

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.