Bizen Sake Cup

This is a Bizen sake cup by the world-renowned holder of intangible cultural properties, the highly decorated Zenji Urakami. It is a work that features the deep, flavorful "nuke" (blush) against a dark brown clay body characteristic of Urakami-sensei. This clay texture, often seen in his crafted decorative pieces, is truly representative of classic, high-quality Bizen ware. The rich, moist "goma" (sesame ash glaze) in the interior is sure to make any sake look exquisite. Original signed wooden box (shiho-zan) included.
Diameter 6.9cm x Diameter 6.9cm x Height 5.8cm Zenji Urakami (1914–2006) was born in Imbe and entered the world of pottery as a student of Shunko Nishimura. In 1935, he became a pupil of Japan Art Academy member Seibo Kitamura to study sculpture, woodcarving under Shin Naito, and drawing under Saburo Okada and Sakujiro Okubo. He excelled at creating lifelike animal figurines, bronze statues, and ceramic wall murals based on realism. His major works include the ceramic mural at Okayama Airport, the ceramic plaque of Grandmaster Oyama at the Kurashiki City Art Museum, the bronze bust of Toyo Kaneshige at the Bizen Pottery Museum, and the ceramic statue of Kojima Takanori in Tsuyama City. In 1973, his ox figurine won a gold medal at the Le Salon 300th Anniversary Exhibition. In the same year, he was designated as a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property by Okayama Prefecture.
He passed away in March 2006.
Awards: Recipient of numerous honors, including the Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, Miki Memorial Award, French Chagall Honorary Award, Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, 5th Class, and the Grand Prix at the Salon de Paris exhibition, among many others. Member of the Prefectural Exhibition Judging Committee.