Otagiri Japanese 1940-60s Double Wall Tea Cups. Hand Painted and Crackle design. GUC

Otagiri vintage Obori Somayaki tea cups from Japan, traditional celadon crackle glaze. A unique double-wall construction intended to keep tea hot while staying cool to the touch. The cups have distinctive cut-outs, in the shape of hearts, and are decorated with a gold-painted sacred horse emblem. Some of the hand painted gold has worn on the larger cup. These cups are Somayaki (also known as Soma ware or Obori-Soma-yaki), Japanese porcelain that has been produced for over 300 years in the Fukushima Prefecture. Produced in the mid-to-late 20th century. Was popular as a domestic and export item in the mid-20th century (approx. 1940s–1960s). Double-Wall Construction insulates hot liquids while keeping the outer surface cool to the touch. Blue Fissures (Aohibi): The distinctive crackle glaze covers the entire surface. Gold Sacred Horse (Hashiri-goma): Typically hand-drawn on the bottom or side, representing the sacred horses of the former Soma domain. These cups have heart-shaped or teardrop reticulated cut-outs in the outer wall.