Bizen Beer Mug

This is a newly fired Bizen beer mug by Takashi Soga, an artist who challenges the aesthetic of antiquity by recreating the same conditions in which ancient Bizen pottery was fired. To replicate the style of the Old Bizen period, he avoids the use of firebricks and other modern conveniences; consequently, the kiln operates outside the bounds of contemporary common sense regarding thermal efficiency. This process yields an exquisite clay texture that transcends modern beauty, bringing it remarkably close to that of Old Bizen. For this piece, Soga secured high-quality rice field clay—the same type favored by the legendary masters of Imbe—and fired it meticulously in his unique kiln until achieving the desired result. The exposed clay surface possesses a subtle, lustrous finish of supreme quality. The rich, dense character of the pure clay is something that words and photographs cannot fully convey, offering a fragrant elegance that makes this piece a highly coveted treasure for Bizen enthusiasts. Paper box
Diameter 7.1cm × 7.1cm × Height 11.1cm Takashi Soga was born in Tokyo in 1984. He studied under Jun Isezaki in 2009 and built his own kiln in Kuku-i, Bizen City, in 2012. He became an independent ceramic artist in 2013.