Hello everyone, how are you doing?
Thank you very much for the wonderful response to our feature on Takashi Soga’s new sake cups.
In this article, I would like to introduce some sake bottles (tokkuri) that arrived around the same time.
These are also superb pieces that showcase Soga-sensei’s masterfully crafted, earthy qualities.
The first piece is a work that perfectly replicates the kiln flavor of Old Bizen, which Soga-sensei is so deeply enamored with.
While many contemporary pieces exhibit a strong contrast between red and black in their ash-covered (haikaburi) kiln changes,
the red and black scenery imbued in this sake bottle is truly reminiscent of the Old Bizen style,
with its matte texture, flaky-looking sesame (goma) glaze, and dark, subdued scarlet hue, giving it a very unique character.
It has a charm that seems to seep from the clay itself, calling to mind the unadorned beauty of Old Bizen from the Muromachi period.
The scarlet hue, born not from excessive artifice but as a natural extension of its "utility," is the true essence of wild Bizen ware.
Its bluntness, as if to say "this is just how it turned out when fired as it is," radiates a bold and imposing atmosphere.
Although it is a brand-new creation, it carries a unique, weathered atmosphere as if it had already been used extensively and worn down.
The other piece is one that seems to embody the unique nature of Soga-sensei’s kiln.
The structure of the kiln itself is built far removed from modern conventional wisdom,
constructed with clay walls as if the kiln itself were a piece of pottery.
Because of this, the more the kiln is fired, the more the kiln itself "fires" just like the pottery within,
and while some pieces with slight metallic luster (kinsai) were produced in the previous firing,
it seems that many pieces with intense metallic luster were produced in this latest firing.
(*Metallic luster: Areas where the surface takes on a sheen and shines as if it were made of gold or silver.)
I would like to introduce one of those pieces here.
Metallic luster appears throughout, and it is draped in scarlet fire-cord markings (hidasuki) that glisten as if wet.
The black areas have little luster and, combined with the darker azuki-bean color, give it a metallic appearance.
Unlike the Old Bizen style, this piece exhibits a powerful scenery unique to Soga-sensei.
(Takashi Soga / Assorted New Sake Bottles)
Bizen Tokkuri size: 8.6cm diameter × 8.6cm diameter × 12.8cm height price: Sold
Hidasuki Tokkuri size: 8.4cm diameter × 8.3cm diameter × 12.8cm height price: Sold
Please contact us below for detailed images of the works.
Tel 0869-67-2210 Fax 0869-67-2220
Email Kawaguchi Tourakuen (Click to open email window)