{"product_id":"p1639","title":"Ibe Black Sake Cup","description":"This is a new Ibe-guro sake cup by Kenji Takenaka, who transitioned from jewelry design to pottery under the tutelage of Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki. The piece utilizes mountain clay from the Kumayama range—a material he has worked with since his days as an apprentice—resulting in a work that combines the jewel-like quality of Ibe-de ware with a touch of ruggedness. The crisp, coarse-grained clay gives the black surface, the \"goma\" (ash glaze), and the overall texture a wild, dynamic character. The form, created by sawing and then hollowing out the clay, incorporates sharp, slanted lines into the cross-sections, showcasing Takenaka-sensei’s signature style that balances ruggedness with a keen sense of edge.\n\nSigned wooden box (shiho-san style)\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 7.2cm x Diameter 7.2cm x Height 5.8cm\n\nKenji Takenaka was captivated by the medium of clay and transitioned into ceramics from a career in jewelry design. After completing his studies at the Bizen Ceramic Center in 1986, he worked there as an instructor for two years. He began his apprenticeship under Jun Isezaki in 1988 and established his own studio in 1994. In addition to traditional tea ceremony ware, sake vessels, tableware, and flower vases, he also creates innovative, unconventional works. Using an anagama kiln for oxidation and reduction firing, he expresses a diverse range of aesthetics through the varying colors of red, white, and black, as well as the unique texture of the clay. He has received numerous honors, including the Okayama City Mayor’s Prize and the Prefectural Exhibition Prize at the Okayama Prefectural Exhibition, as well as the Sanyo Shimbun Prize at the Japan Traditional Kogei Branch Exhibition, and has been selected for various other exhibitions. He holds solo exhibitions in Tokyo, Okayama, Kurashiki, and beyond.","brand":"竹中健次","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618372440161,"sku":"1639","price":25000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/1639.jpg?v=1790235495","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p1639","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}