Guinomi Sake Cup by Koga Kenji

A small sake cup with a quiet, earthy presence. Koga Kenji shaped the walls with gentle dents and a softly squared rim, so each side sits differently in the hand. A mottled olive-green glaze covers the body, and a dark iron-brown band at the lip breaks into green speckles as it runs down. The foot is left unglazed, showing the warm, sandy Karatsu clay with faint blushes of colour from the kiln.

Karatsu ware comes from Saga Prefecture in Kyushu and has been prized for over four centuries for its natural glazes and relaxed forms, especially among sake and tea lovers. Collectors say a Karatsu cup "grows" with use: over time the glaze and clay take on a deeper, softer tone.

Use it for sake, a small tea, or as a single-flower vessel on your table.