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No. 3425
Bizen ware incense container, dated to the mizunoto-hitsuji year
¥14,000
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Description
This is a Bizen sake cup by the world-renowned master Zenji Urakami, a holder of intangible cultural property who achieved numerous honors. The box is inscribed "Mizunoto-hitsuji Kogo" (Year of the Sheep Incense Container), indicating that this work was created in 2003, during the final years of Zenji Urakami's life. True to the master's reputation for powerful ceramic sculpture, this piece prioritizes dynamic vibrancy over intricate detail. While the overall firing features a reduced grey tone, the back displays a tasteful yellow sesame glaze (kama), creating a landscape that beautifully captures the texture of sheep's wool. This piece was featured on the Kawaguchi Togakuen New Year's card to celebrate this year's zodiac sign.
Signed wooden box (shiho-san) included
Diameter 8.3cm x 4.9cm x Height 5.3cm Zenji Urakami (1914–2006) was born in Imbe and began his path in ceramics under the tutelage of Shunko Nishimura. In 1935, he became a pupil of Art Academy member Seibo Kitamura to study sculpture, wood carving under Shin Naito, and sketching under Saburo Okada and Sakujiro Okubo. He excelled in creating life-like animal figurines, bronze statues, and ceramic wall murals rooted in realism. 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. That same year, he was designated as a holder of an Okayama Prefecture-designated Important Intangible Cultural Property. He passed away in March 2006.
Awards: Recipient of the Okayama Prefectural Cultural Award, Miki Memorial Award, France-Chagall Honorary Award, Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, 5th Class, Grand Prize at the Salon de Paris exhibition, and many others / Member of the Prefectural Exhibition judging committee.
Diameter 8.3cm x 4.9cm x Height 5.3cm Zenji Urakami (1914–2006) was born in Imbe and began his path in ceramics under the tutelage of Shunko Nishimura. In 1935, he became a pupil of Art Academy member Seibo Kitamura to study sculpture, wood carving under Shin Naito, and sketching under Saburo Okada and Sakujiro Okubo. He excelled in creating life-like animal figurines, bronze statues, and ceramic wall murals rooted in realism. 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. That same year, he was designated as a holder of an Okayama Prefecture-designated Important Intangible Cultural Property. He passed away in March 2006.
Awards: Recipient of the Okayama Prefectural Cultural Award, Miki Memorial Award, France-Chagall Honorary Award, Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, 5th Class, Grand Prize at the Salon de Paris exhibition, and many others / Member of the Prefectural Exhibition judging committee.
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