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Mushiake pottery is a relatively obscure style fired in Okayama prefecture, the same area as Bizen. It began in the Edo period to service the tea needs of Lord Ikeda. After losing feudal patronage in the Meiji period there was a decline in the output and even stretches where there were no kilns being fired at all. Along came Okamoto Eizan (1881-1962) who along with Kuroi Ichiraku rekindled the flames and interest in Mushiake and even went so far as to start a 'mushiake boom.' From 1907 he set out and studied in Yamaguchi, Kyushu, Kyoto and Bizen before his revitalization of Mushiake. Okamoto was renowned for his tea wares. This is a very refined Okamoto set of five sencha cups with plum blossoms. Each is perfectly formed for the utmost enjoyment of tea; light feel, 'just right' angled lip and light-colored interior. Each in perfect condition, 4.5cm.tallx6.2, stamped Eizan in base.
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