Egaratsu guinomi c. 20th century

Curator: Here we have Sugimoto Tatsuo's "Egaratsu guinomi," a sake cup crafted around the 20th century and now residing here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Editor: My first impression is its understated elegance. The creamy glaze is crackled in a way that seems deliberate, and it gives the object a palpable sense of age. Curator: The appeal really lies in understanding the firing process, wouldn't you agree? This crackling effect is key to its Egaratsu character, revealing how the glaze interacts with the earthenware during cooling, something highly regarded in Japanese ceramics. Editor: True, but look closer at that asymmetrical curve of the bowl. The slight irregularities enhance its beauty, wouldn’t you agree? The cup is both refined and rustic. This play is about how the materials embody a certain kind of quiet simplicity. Curator: Indeed. Think of the hands that shaped this modest drinking vessel! It represents the countless hours, specialized labor, and transmitted know-how that’s bound up in studio ceramics like this. Editor: Let's also talk about form. Its unassuming size is deliberate. There's something beautiful in that constraint and in this visual dance with texture, where the glaze itself becomes integral to the composition. It invites intimate use. Curator: I am interested in the production. Sugimoto’s process must have been carefully monitored to reach the standard of Egaratsu style, right? The history is built into every imperfection. It’s about preserving and advancing an old, craft-centered aesthetic. Editor: I like how the minimalist style speaks for itself; there is more to be appreciated just by appreciating its inherent qualities. Curator: Yes, appreciating ceramics as records of skill and cultural transmission brings richness to its meaning, doesn’t it? Editor: Exactly! Understanding how form elevates utilitarian objects offers deep insight on our aesthetic understanding and appreciation of daily life objects.