Gold and Silver Ice-Crack Cup — Kiyomizu Ware, Kyoto

The Gold and Silver Ice-Crack Cup by Mishima is a vessel where subtle artistry meets quiet opulence. At first glance, the surface reveals an intricate web of fine fissures, a crackle glaze that recalls landscapes seen through ice or the veining of precious stone. Upon closer study, each fissure is touched with either gold or silver, individually stamped into the surface by the hand of the artisan. This combination of restraint and radiance makes the cup an object of fascination: a work of functional art designed to delight the eye, the hand, and the spirit.

Rooted in the long tradition of Kiyomizu ware, this cup carries forward a lineage of ceramic mastery that began in Kyoto centuries ago. Kiyomizu ware, also called Kiyomizu-yaki, emerged during the Momoyama and early Edo periods, when Kyoto became a center of refined taste and technical innovation in ceramics. Renowned for its elegance and its ability to marry beauty with daily use, Kiyomizu ware has since become one of Japan’s most celebrated ceramic traditions. To hold a piece such as this is not simply to possess a vessel, but to join a continuum of artistry shaped by history, nature, and human skill.

The Mishima technique, used here with exceptional sensitivity, adds further depth to the story of this cup. Traditionally, Mishima involves the inlay of patterns into the surface of clay, often filled with white slip or pigment. In this interpretation, the technique takes on a luminous character: the countless hairline cracks in the glaze, known as kannyū, are adorned with the subtle gleam of gold or silver. As light moves across the cup, these lines shimmer with varying intensity, evoking a shifting landscape that is never the same twice. Each variation — pink with gold, cypress green with gold, silver-white with silver, and olive with gold — offers its own expression of harmony, inviting the collector to choose the mood and tone that resonates most deeply.

Measuring 9 centimeters in diameter and 9.5 centimeters in height, with a capacity of 320 milliliters, the cup strikes a balance between presence and intimacy. The proportions are carefully considered: wide enough to showcase the inner glaze landscape, tall enough to cradle in both hands. Whether used for tea, sake, or even water, the form encourages a slowing down of pace — a deliberate act of drinking that becomes an experience in itself. The potter’s wheel-molded construction ensures a refined symmetry, while retaining the slight individuality that marks true handcraft. In the hand, the piece feels alive, warmed by touch and weighted with reassuring substance.

One of the most captivating qualities of this cup is its versatility. It is not confined to ceremonial use, though it would be entirely at home in such a setting. Instead, it lends itself equally to moments of solitude, when one seeks quiet reflection with a warm drink, and to gatherings, where it can serve as a talking point at the table. Its beauty is not merely ornamental; it enhances the atmosphere of the occasion, whether humble or grand. The crackle glaze, with its shimmering accents, seems to catch memory itself in its network of lines — each sip becomes part of the cup’s evolving story.

As a gift, the Gold and Silver Ice-Crack Cup embodies refinement and thoughtfulness. Presented in Tokodo’s original wrapping paper with ribbon and bag, provided without charge, it carries an air of elegance that requires no additional embellishment. To give such a cup is to offer not only an object, but an experience — a vessel that the recipient may integrate into daily rituals or display as a cherished keepsake. Few gifts achieve such balance between practicality and enduring beauty.

In the larger context of Japanese ceramics, this cup represents the essence of what Tokodo has long stood for: the union of utility and artistry. Since its founding in 1936, Tokodo has been dedicated to curating works that embody Japan’s finest traditions while remaining attuned to the rhythms of contemporary life. The Gold and Silver Ice-Crack Cup, though rooted in centuries-old techniques, feels entirely relevant today — a reminder that true craftsmanship does not age, but instead deepens in meaning with each generation.