Bizen Sake Cup

This is a freshly fired Bizen sake cup by Takashi Soga, who challenges the beauty of the past by recreating the same environment in which Old Bizen was fired. To replicate the style of the Old Bizen era, he avoids the use of firebricks and other modern materials; consequently, the kiln is fired in a way that defies modern standards of thermal efficiency. As a result, the cup exhibits an exquisite "tsuchiaji" (taste of the clay) that transcends contemporary aesthetics and approaches that of Old Bizen. He is also particular about the quality of the clay, utilizing high-grade rice field clay thought to have been used for Momoyama-period pottery, resulting in a remarkable tactile quality characterized by a fine texture, iron eruptions, and a unique luster. The base is an ochre clay tone that appears as if the very surface of Momoyama pottery has been transplanted, combined with a matte, lusterless skin to create an exceptional atmosphere. Furthermore, because the kiln is non-standard, unexpected changes occur easily; golden hues appear in various places, such as the interior and front, providing a stunning contrast with the matte surface. Signed wooden box to follow (shipping will take some time).
Diameter 7.0cm x 6.9cm x Height 5.3cm Takashi Soga was born in Tokyo in 1984. He studied under Jun Isezaki in 2009 and built his kiln in Kukuigami, Bizen City, in 2012. He became independent and began his pottery career in 2013.