Bizen sake cup

This Bizen sake cup is the work of the world-renowned and highly distinguished Intangible Cultural Property holder, Zenji Uragami. It includes a ceramic history document from 1989 and is a piece featuring the *yohen* (kiln transformation) characteristic of Uragami’s later years. The black ash glaze is fired so intensely that it creates a raised texture, offering a tactile, rugged feel typical of *yohen* that is delightful to the touch. The clay body itself has transformed into a rich, chocolate-like brown, and it is truly remarkable that the quality of the clay remains so evident despite such rigorous firing. (Please note that while this piece shows no signs of use, it is an older work.) Original signed wooden box (shiho-zan)
Diameter 6.6cm x Diameter 6.4cm x Height 5.5cm Zenji Uragami (1914–2006) was born in Imbe and entered the world of ceramics under the tutelage of Shunko Nishimura. In 1935, he became a student of Japan Art Academy member Seibo Kitamura, studying sculpture, and further honed his skills in wood carving under Shin Naito and drawing under Saburo Okada and Sakujiro Okubo. He excelled in creating lifelike animal figurines, bronze statues, and ceramic murals grounded in realism. His major works include the ceramic wall 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 cow figurine won the gold medal at the Le Salon 300th Anniversary Exhibition. That 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 Prefectural 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. Served as a juror for the prefectural exhibition.