Bizen sake cup

This is a Bizen sake cup by the world-renowned and highly decorated Intangible Cultural Property holder, Zenji Urakami. It features an exquisite, lustrous light-purple clay texture accented by a refined *goma* (ash glaze), creating a piece that is orthodox yet distinct. The interior reveals a shimmering platinum "nuke" effect alongside silver-flecked clay, reminiscent of a silvery half-moon, evoking a deep sense of elegance. The foot, carved with chamfered edges, displays unique vertical striations—a hallmark of Urakami-sensei’s masterful ability to manipulate clay to express character. Original signed box (shiho-zan)
Diameter 7.0cm × Diameter 6.9cm × Height 5.0cm Zenji Urakami (1914–2006) was born in Imbe and began his journey in ceramics under Shunko Nishimura. In 1935, he became a student of Japan Art Academy member Seibo Kitamura, studying sculpture, and went on to learn wood carving from Shin Naito, as well as drawing from Saburo Okada and Sakujiro Okubo. He excelled in creating lifelike animal figurines, bronze statues, and ceramic wall murals based on realism. His major works include the ceramic mural at Okayama Airport, the Oyama Meijin ceramic panel at the Kurashiki City Art Museum, the bust of Toyo Kaneshige at the Bizen Pottery Museum, and the statue of Kojima Takanori in Tsuyama City. In 1973, his ox figurine won a gold medal at the Le Salon 300th Anniversary Exhibition. That same year, he was designated a holder of the Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Cultural Property. He passed away in March 2006.
Awards: Recipient of numerous honors, including the Okayama Prefectural Cultural Award, Miki Memorial Award, French Chagall Honorary Award, Medal with Blue Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, 5th Class, and the Grand Prix at the Salon de Paris, among others. Served as a juror for the prefectural exhibition.