Fluctuation Sake Set

With the Fluctuation Sake Set, Seto ware artist Taruta Hiroshi reflects on the ever-changing nature of light. The set comprises one sake carafe and two sake cups. Finished in a soft celadon glaze, the bowl feels light and quietly refined in its presence. Across the porcelain surface, long flowing lines are drawn freehand and carefully carved, creating slight variations in thickness that give the material both texture and radiance. Where the porcelain grows especially thin, light gathers and glimmers softly.

The technique Taruta applied, known as hotarude—literally “firefly technique”—traditionally involves carving intricate openings in porcelain and coating them with a translucent glaze. This allows light to pass through the vessel while maintaining a seamless surface, creating points of illumination reminiscent of fireflies glimmering in a silk-dark night. Though hotarude cut-outs are most typically circular, Taruta specializes in linear carvings, bringing his own unique artistic vision to the form.

Beyond the intricacy of the carving, the glaze plays an essential role in shaping its luminous character. Taruta began working with this glaze during his apprenticeship and continued to refine its formulation by carefully adjusting glaze composition and firing conditions, achieving a balance of color and translucency. The porcelain glows softly while preserving the clarity of the carved lines.

Where the porcelain becomes thinnest, a soft luminosity emerges, its gentle glow recalling light filtering through drifting clouds. Because light itself shifts with the hour and the season, the set offers a slightly different expression each time it is used. Whether enjoyed over a tranquil evening drink or shared in an unhurried gathering, it invites the drinker to pause and savor the beauty of changing light.

Taruta Hiroshi

Taruta Hiroshi is a Seto ware artist specializing in linear hotarude, an openwork technique in which cutouts of graceful lines are carved in clay, then filled with translucent glaze before firing. Working with porcelain and pale celadon glaze, Taruta thus creates landscapes of light with each delicate incision. He brings an innovative approach to his work, seeking out new modes of expression as he pushes the boundaries of hotarude. His elegant vessels foster interactions between space and light that bring a sense of wonder and quiet mystery.

Artículos de Seto

Fabricada en la ciudad de Seto y sus alrededores, en la prefectura de Aichi, la cerámica Seto abarca una amplia gama de piezas que reflejan siglos de artesanía e innovación. Como uno de los Seis Hornos Antiguos de Japón (Rokkoyo), la región de Seto ocupa un lugar destacado en el patrimonio cerámico del país. También fue pionera en la producción en masa de porcelana, y su uso generalizado dio origen al término setomono—un término que todavía se utiliza hoy en día para referirse a la cerámica en general.

Destacada por su variedad estilística, Seto es una de las pocas regiones de Japón donde se elaboran tanto gres como porcelana. Desde la sencilla vajilla de uso diario hasta piezas más refinadas, la cerámica de Seto sigue marcando la vida cotidiana con creaciones que equilibran tradición y creatividad.