Seto Blue Sometsuke Lotus Tall Cup

Lotus Flower Sometsuke Bowl – Blue & White Ware | Shingama Kiln (Seto, Japan)

This refined porcelain bowl features a single lotus flower gracefully painted in shades of blue on a pure white base. The delicate gold detailing at the flower’s core highlights the design, while deep indigo leaves provide balance and depth. With its partially unglazed surface, the piece carries a soft, ink painting–like atmosphere, embodying both tranquility and elegance.

Handmade at Shingama Kiln (眞窯) in Seto City, Aichi Prefecture, the work continues a tradition that began in 1919. From its origins in dyed-lacquer–style pottery to its dedication to sometsuke (blue-and-white ware), Shingama has cultivated a reputation for refined craftsmanship and artistic expression.
Sometsuke is created by painting patterns with gosu—a cobalt-based pigment—onto white porcelain, applying a transparent glaze, and then firing. The indigo tones vary with each potter’s clay, glaze, and firing method, producing subtle differences unique to every piece. A hallmark of Shingama’s artistry is the dami technique, where rich brushstrokes of gosu are applied with fluidity, much like ink painting, creating expressive depth with a single color. Such nuanced beauty can only be achieved through years of skilled craftsmanship.
In 1997, Seto Sometsuke-yaki was officially designated as a Traditional Craft of Japan by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry. Today, it continues to be celebrated both in Japan and abroad for its graceful forms and evocative brushwork.
This lotus flower bowl, blending refined design with the serene beauty of indigo, makes a timeless addition to any collection—whether used daily or cherished as an objet d’art.