Hand-Polished Kiriko Sake Cup - Shippo Flower (Japanese Craft)

The production of this piece began with a desire to create a modern design using the traditional "Shippo" (cloisonné) pattern. The Shippo pattern, represented by infinitely connecting circles, symbolizes the profound importance of human connections and destiny. During the design process, I noticed a lack of sake cups featuring bold, deep-cut patterns. Thus, I decided to steer the direction toward a "design that utilizes Shippo through bold cuts." After refining many prototypes, I arrived at this current balance where the symmetry of the Shippo motif and the deep cuts from the base merge perfectly. At the center of each Shippo pattern lies a "Tama" (beaded sphere), which is a completely original design of our studio. In Japanese, "Tama" refers to a sphere, but it also carries the meaning of "something extremely precious." Terms like Gyoku-za (Imperial Throne), Gyoku-sho (Jeweled General in Shogi), and Gyoku-ro (Premium Green Tea) all use this character to signify something of high value. The "Tama" in this design is finished with a frosted, matte texture through a specialized sanding process. While the full name could have been "Tama-Shippo Flower," I chose "Shippo Flower" for its more elegant phonetic rhythm. We invite you to consider this piece for personal use, as a gift, or to enhance your brand image for professional settings. Our studio uses the traditional Edo Kiriko "Hand-Polishing" technique. This method ensures the glass retains its strength while achieving a high-quality finish and brilliance. On the other hand, many products on the market use "Acid Polishing," where the glass is submerged in acid to dissolve the surface. While acid-polished pieces are prone to scratches and potential color fading, many studios choose this method to reduce labor and lower the price for higher sales volume. Because our studio polishes each cut surface individually by hand, the original strength of the glass is preserved. You may wash these cups thoroughly with detergent and sponges. Please note: Like other glassware, this product is NOT compatible with boiling water, microwaves, or dishwashers. Detailed care instructions are available on our studio's official website.