Bizenmi

This is a 2013 Year of the Snake zodiac figurine by the highly acclaimed and internationally renowned holder of intangible cultural property, Zenji Uragami. The snake is charmingly stylized in a way characteristic of Uragami-sensei, with a delightful expression. It is a unique piece that displays a powerful, dynamic movement, as if it is ascending toward the heavens. Considered a symbol of financial fortune, snakes are also believed to be very auspicious as they only move forward. Diameter 21.0cm × 6.6cm × Height 17.5cm Zenji Uragami (1914–2006) was born in Imbe and began his journey into ceramics under the tutelage of Shunko Nishimura. In 1935, he became a student of Japan Art Academy member Seibo Kitamura, where he studied sculpture; he also learned wood carving from Shin Naito and sketching from Saburo Okada and Sakujiro Okubo. He excelled at creating lifelike animal figurines, bronze statues, and ceramic wall art grounded in realism. His major works include the ceramic wall at Okayama Airport, the ceramic plaque of Grand Master 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 the Gold Medal at the Le Salon 300th Anniversary Exhibition. That same year, he was designated 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 Prefectural Cultural Award, Miki Memorial Award, France-Chagall Honorary Award, Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, 5th Class, and the Grand Prize at the Salon de Paris exhibition; member of the prefectural exhibition judging committee.