This Kiyomizu-yaki (清水焼) yunomi was created by the celebrated Kyoto ceramic artist Nishikawa Minoru (西川實), who signed his works under the mark Heian Jitsusaku (平安実作). Born in 1929 in Kyoto’s Yamashina district, Nishikawa devoted his life to refining the art of Kyoto ware.
Establishing his kiln in the Fushimi-Fukakusa area of Kyoto, Nishikawa made use of local clay and became known for his innovative glazes and sculptural forms. Deeply inspired by the Chinese Song dynasty’s Jun ware, he developed his own unique glaze techniques that combined the translucence and softness of classical glazes with a modern sense of restraint.
The tea cup itself exemplifies Nishikawa’s mastery of form and surface. The cylindrical body is perfectly balanced, its smooth exterior shaded from a deep, earthy brown to a soft metallic sheen. A single, precise vertical incision adds a quiet rhythm to the surface, while the interior is lined with a cool white glaze, creating a serene contrast that enhances the experience of tea.
Nishikawa Minoru was named a Kyoto City Cultural Meritorious Person (京都市文化功労者), a rare honor acknowledging his contributions to modern Japanese ceramics. This yunomi, housed in its original signed kiribako (桐箱) — a paulownia wood box bearing Nishikawa’s seal — stands as a testament to the refined beauty and quiet power of his work.
