- Type
- Shino
- Details
- A vessel for enjoying sake. A Shino tokkuri (sake flask) clothed half in fire-red and half in milky white, suited to warm or chilled sake.
- Materials
- Mogusa clay (rare clay)
- Size
- φ90mm
- Height
- 150 mm
- Weight
- About 300g
- Texture
- Smooth all over, with a warmth that seems to cling to the hand. The fire-red side carries a slight gloss; on the milky side the thickness of the glaze passes softly to the fingers.
Features of this piece
Half fire-red, half milky white: a Shino tokkuri (sake flask) with the look of an earthen wall lit by the fire of a sunken hearth. On the fire-red side the red runs deep, its intensity shifting with the swell of each face. On the milky side the glaze lies thick and white, with the fire color showing through here and there from beneath. The border between the two is never a straight line; it wavers gently, like the edge of the firelight.
The neck is slender and the mouth opens just slightly, narrowing the stream as the sake pours. A thread of fire color runs around the inside of the lip, catching the eye with every pour. The lower body swells gently and sits firmly in one hand.
The Shino surface receives the sake softly and suits it warmed or chilled. On an evening spent tilting this flask, as if holding your hands to the fire, the sake seems to go slowly. For a quiet drink alone, or for a night with guests.
Expected to ship within 10 business days from the date of order
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Shino
The moment of change
Shino is an elusive vessel that was created for only a brief period in the tea world over 450 years ago. It was fired in large kilns and anagama kilns from the late 16th century to the early 17th century. The charm of Shino lies in its characteristic appearance of a snow-white surface, created by using feldspar, with a subtle, warm fire color visible within it. Bringing out this beautiful color is extremely difficult due to the need for strong reduction firing, where the kiln temperature does not easily rise, necessitating constant temperature adjustments day and night. The kiln firing lasts for more than seven days, conducted under extremely harsh conditions, requiring careful attention. The outcome varies significantly with the seasons and climate, demanding a level of delicacy that allows for no moment of inattention. The color of Shino leaves an impression like "the soil seen after the snow melts" or "a beautiful sunset formed by clouds and the setting sun." Capturing and expressing the fleeting natural beauty without any preconceived ideas or intentions, Shino continues to captivate people's hearts, both now and in the past.
Sake Vessels of Shino: Opening the Flavor
Sake drunk from Shino is said to open up in flavor. Just as wine is decanted, sake too, once it meets the air, gains in aroma, finds its balance, and shows its sweetness. Beneath the glaze, a Shino vessel keeps the soft skin of the clay. Sake poured into it touches that skin and opens slowly, as if the vessel were breathing. A cup poured while looking at the fire-red and milky white seems to show a slightly different face, even with the same sake. With a Shino sake vessel by Kato Takaya, an evening drink alone, taken slowly.
Suitable for
Care
Please wash by hand using a soft sponge or cloth when cleaning. Please refrain from using abrasive sponges for cleaning.
Please note
