Blue glazed tea or coffee cup by Ritsuji Takeuchi

This Japanese ceramic mug, which can be used for tea or coffee, features a beautiful gradient of deep blues, which descends along the walls in a soft dripping effect, creating a sense of fluidity and movement. The clean and elegant shape sits comfortably in the hand and emphasizes the balance between simplicity and intensity, characteristic of Ritsuji Takeuchi's work.

The ceramist
Ritsuji Takeuchi (born 1959 in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture) is the founder of the Sakazu Enoki-gama kiln, which he built in 1986 in the Sakazu district, known for its pure water springs. Son of the architect Kōichirō Takeuchi and grandson of the first director of the Ōhara Museum, he continues a family tradition sensitive to art and creation. For more than forty years, he has pursued research focused on two primordial colors, shinsya (red) and gosu (blue), which he considers fundamental hues of Asian nature and culture. His firings, carried out at approximately 1280 °C, aim to reveal the strength and density of these colors in a profoundly living material.

The technique and the decor
The decoration is based on a gosu (cobalt) glaze applied by generous pouring, then spread naturally by rotation before firing. This process gives the glaze a fluid movement, visible in the distribution of tones: a very dense blue, almost black, edge and areas where the material recedes slightly to reveal the light background. During firing, the glaze melted, creating a bluish fringe effect, as if the pigment had frayed under the heat, reminiscent of water trickling over the earth. The overall effect, both spontaneous and controlled, illustrates Takeuchi's quest for Japanese ceramics with an organic and luminous expression.

Practical information
Place
Japan, Kurashiki (Okayama), Sakazu Enoki-gama

Dimensions
Diameter 8.7 cm - Height 7 cm

Weight
171 gr

Materials
Ceramic, gosu (cobalt) glaze

Period
Contemporary

Care instructions
After use, empty the water and let it air dry, avoid thermal shocks and abrasive products, wipe with a soft cloth, no dishwasher, oven, microwave.