Joseon Dynasty Ido-glazed sake cup

The shape is gradually changing, with a gently curved rim leading to a plump waist and tapering towards the base.

A jar with a narrowed mouth like this is called a "shioge," and was originally a jar for storing salt or miso paste, but tea masters used it as a tea bowl.

In addition to the size of tea bowls, there are also small sizes that fit in one hand, and some are popular as sake cups. It is the ideal size and sturdy shape for a salt bowl.

When you pick it up, it fits snugly in your palm, and your fingers fit snugly around the rim and base, giving it an exceptional sense of stability. It feels heavier than a flat sake cup, but the stable shape makes it easy to handle.

In the tea ceremony, a tea bowl that is very similar to an Ido tea bowl but has a slightly different style is called an Ido-waki tea bowl. This work is a sake cup that is more familiarly called an Ido-waki.

The overall color is that of decayed leaves, with some bluish areas visible in places depending on the thickness of the glaze. The inside and outside are covered with fine crazing, and the distribution is not monotonous but rather has a rhythm of varying sizes, making it a sight to behold. The moist glaze and its smooth texture when touched are pleasant to the eye and the hand.

There are some gold repairs on the rim, some dents repaired with gold, and some other minor dents. Please see the photos for details.

This sake cup will likely continue to look even better in the future. It is a product that we hope will be used by many people who love it.