Swallow & Cherry Blossom Tall Cup

Sparrow & Bamboo Soup Cup – Setoyaki (Seto Ware) | Shiro Oshima (Seto, Japan)

This hand-formed and hand-painted soup cup is crafted from Setoyaki earthenware by Shiro Oshima (大島梓路), a leading ceramic artist based in Seto City, Aichi Prefecture. The piece features a delicate sparrow rendered in the refined style of Japanese painting, paired with elegant bamboo motifs in soft blue. Its handle, shaped like a sparrow, adds both charm and sculptural beauty, making the vessel equally suited for daily use or as a decorative object.
Oshima studied Japanese painting at university, later completing training at the Seto Sometsuke (blue-and-white) Institute. Her works, which blend the sensitivity of Japanese painting with ceramic form, have been selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, and she has held numerous solo exhibitions. Today, she is recognized as one of Seto’s foremost ceramic artists.
The piece is finished with a matte glaze reminiscent of gofun (a traditional white pigment), which softens the expression of the painted designs and enhances their gentle character.
Seto ware (Setoyaki), one of Japan’s most important ceramic traditions, is renowned for its high-quality white clay, which allows for both pottery and porcelain production—an exceptional trait among Japan’s kilns. In particular, Seto porcelain is celebrated for its graceful blue-and-white decoration, created with gosu, a cobalt-based pigment. This heritage of fine craftsmanship and expressive artistry continues in Oshima’s work, where tradition and individuality harmonize beautifully.
A graceful balance of painting and form, this sparrow and bamboo soup cup offers not only functionality but also a quiet elegance, making it a treasured addition to any collection of Japanese ceramics.