Understated and sophisticated, the beauty of this bulbous earthy guinomi lies in its delicate foot and fine balance. So pleasant to cradle in the hand, this stout guinomi can only be crafted by someone who really appreciates the multi-faceted aspects of using a beautiful cup: how does it feel in the hand, on the lip, to the eyes, to the heart.
Benio's custom glazes here remind me of the deep green and multitonal chocolate brown, mossy cream, antique gold and dusty blue tones in a dark Oregon forest. Inside the cup, a spotty particulate glaze set within tea-colored glass makes the cup feel layered and three dimensional, like staring deep into a lost lake. These effects are created naturally by Benio's custom glazes.Â
Benio's delicately crafted, paper-thin ceramic feels like the barest boundary between lips and sake. The wide mouth of the guinomi makes sake taste sweeter and lets your nose enter the glass, appreciating more of the aroma and allowing for a more generous pour between refills.
These cups are handcrafted by Ehime-trained Tokyo artist Benio Tomishima.Â
Benio is compensated in proportion to American retail pricing, in order to afford her a fair percentage of Sunflower sales.Â
