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Taya Shikkiten

Swimming Red Sea Bream Wajima Lacquerware Sake Cup

Swimming Red Sea Bream Wajima Lacquerware Sake Cup

$279.00 USD
$279.00 USD
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Only 3 left in stock

Celebrate life’s auspicious moments with the Swimming Red Sea Bream Wajima Lacquerware Sake Cup by Taya Shikkiten. At the heart of its glossy black interior, a red sea bream—long regarded in Japan as a symbol of celebration and good fortune—appears mid-swim, rendered in brilliant maki-e with radiant gold accents. The shimmering backdrop evokes quiet ripples beneath a moonlit surface.

Each cup is handcrafted in Wajima, a city famed for its high-grade lacquerware. Layer upon layer of urushi lacquer gives the surface its rich, mirror-like depth, while the delicate artistry inside the bowl elevates every pour into a visual delight.

Whether gifted or cherished for personal use, this sake cup embodies both traditional beauty and joyful symbolism—an exquisite blend of form, craft, and meaning.

Detail

Size: W 2.8in x L 2.8in x H 1.8in / W 7cm x L 7cm x H 4.5cm
Capacity: 50cc / 1.7oz
Material: Wood, gold powder
Coating: Lacquer

Care ＆ Use

  • Handwash only
  • Keep it dry
  • Avoid metal scrubs or abrasive detergents
  • Store safely
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Wajima Lacquerware: Built to Last, Designed to Endure

Wajima lacquerware comes from the coastal town of Wajima in Ishikawa Prefecture and is widely regarded as one of Japan’s most durable and refined lacquer traditions. Its reputation is built not only on visual beauty but also on resilience: each piece is coated with multiple layers of lacquer fortified by finely ground diatomaceous earth from the region. This foundational material, combined with careful reinforcement techniques like cloth layering, gives Wajima ware its famed strength.

The process is extensive—taking up to a year to complete—and involves more than 100 individual steps, all executed by hand. Traditional decoration methods such as maki-e and gold inlay add elegance without compromising functionality. Whether used in a ceremonial setting or in daily life, Wajima lacquerware is made to last for generations, prized for its warmth in the hand and understated richness in form.

Brand History

Taya Shikkiten is a Wajima-based lacquerware studio led by its tenth-generation successor, Takahiro Taya. The family lineage is known to date back over two centuries. Today, the workshop brings together 30 artisans—each encouraged to create freely without top-down design restrictions. This open studio culture has allowed new forms and ideas to emerge alongside centuries-old techniques.

What distinguishes Taya Shikkiten is its adaptability. In addition to traditional sake cups and bowls, they now produce modern pieces such as lacquered fountain pens—products developed with overseas customers in mind. Their guinomi sake cups, for example, are not only shaped with intention but designed to create a visual moment, like when poured sake reveals a koi swimming below the surface.

While rooted in tradition, Taya Shikkiten continues to explore new ways of bringing lacquerware into everyday life. Whether through hospitality experiences, rentals, or lifestyle collaborations, the aim is always the same: to offer pieces that are beautiful to see, satisfying to touch, and capable of enriching the rituals of daily living.