Black Morikin Aochibu Plum Blossom Sake Cup

This matte black sake cup brings together the techniques of morikin “raised gold,” hakkin-mori “platinum over gold,” and aochibu “blue dots” atop Kutani ware. The black base color serves as a canvas for fine, swirling blue dots applied across the surface, creating a sense of depth and texture. The plum branches are rendered in gold using morikin, which creates a raised effect by layering gold over a bengara red underlayer. The silvery-white plum blossoms use hakkin-mori, an innovation on traditional gold decoration that layers platinum over gold. The platinum and gold contrast with the black ground, creating an interplay of light, color, and texture. The black background further emphasizes the metallic accents. The interior of the cup is adorned with scattered golden cherry blossoms that appear to drift gently across the surface. The transition from plum blossoms on the exterior to cherry blossoms inside reveals new detail as the cup is turned in the hand and sipped from.