Jim Malone Yunomi

A wheel thrown cylindrical vessel with a slight waist and foot by Jim Malone, Ainstable, England, circa 1989. The stoneware object, made by one of Britain's foremost potters, is inspired by and can be referred to as a yunomi, a style of Japanese drinking cup.

The absence of a handle and the astonishingly ergonomic shape of this vessel are in keeping with traditional yunomi which are intended to be cradled in your hands to savour the warmth and aroma of your drink. Adding to the tactility of this piece are the creamy hakeme slip and the rust decoration in iron oxide.

Hakeme, defined as ‘brush stroke’ in Japanese, is the technique of applying a coat of slip with a hard bristled brush. In this instance, thick slip has been harshly applied but although it is textured it remains even and smooth to the touch.