Pottery cup, Zengoro Eiraku

Pottery cup by Eiraku Zengoro with "Gosu-aka-e" Eiraku Zengoro is one of the heads of the Kyoto pottery family that has graced the art scene since the late Muromachi period. As esteemed members of the prestigious "Senke Jisshoku" (Ten Professions of the Tea Ceremony), they have been crafting exquisite "doburo" (earthen stoves) and tea bowls through generations. This pottery is called "Gosu-aka-e" (Gosu red glaze), which is a type of colored pottery that came to Japan from China's Puzhou kiln from the late Momoyama period to early Edo period. The bold and expansive brushstrokes on this piece reflect a profound understanding of the strength and magnanimity characteristic of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.