Japanese Sparrow & Bamboo Lidded Soup Cup – Seto Ware by Shiro Oshima

This elegant lidded soup cup is designed for serving soup, chawanmushi, or small warm dishes, while also standing beautifully as a decorative piece that brings a quiet sense of Japanese refinement to the table.

Hand-formed and hand-painted in Seto City, Aichi Prefecture, this piece is crafted from Setoyaki earthenware by Shiro Oshima (大島梓路), one of Seto’s leading contemporary ceramic artists. Oshima studied traditional Japanese painting at university before completing her training at the Seto Sometsuke (blue-and-white porcelain) Institute. Her work seamlessly bridges fine art and ceramics, and has been selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition. She has also held numerous solo exhibitions and is widely recognized for her refined, painterly approach to ceramic form.

The surface is adorned with a delicately painted sparrow, rendered in a style inspired by traditional Japanese painting, accompanied by graceful bamboo motifs in soft blue tones. The vessel is finished with a matte glaze reminiscent of gofun, a traditional white pigment made from crushed shells, which gently softens the colors and lends the entire piece a calm, serene presence.

A sculptural handle shaped like a sparrow adds a charming accent while enhancing the piece’s tactile appeal. The softly rounded form fits comfortably in the hands, making it suitable for everyday use, yet refined enough to be appreciated as an art object.

Seto ware (Setoyaki) is one of Japan’s most important ceramic traditions, renowned for its high-quality white clay that supports both pottery and porcelain production—an exceptional characteristic among Japanese kiln sites. Seto porcelain, in particular, is celebrated for its elegant blue-and-white decoration created with gosu, a cobalt-based pigment. This long heritage of craftsmanship continues in Oshima’s work, where traditional techniques and personal expression exist in perfect harmony.

Balancing painting and form with remarkable sensitivity, this sparrow and bamboo soup cup embodies both functionality and quiet elegance. It is a thoughtful addition to any table and a treasured piece for collectors of fine Japanese ceramics.