Bizen sake bottle

This is a Bizen sake bottle by the late Zenji Urakami, a highly acclaimed master of intangible cultural heritage who received numerous honors. The piece features a characteristic large *marunuke* (circular unglazed patch) on the reverse, with a striking *haikaburi* (ash glaze) effect on the front, making it a work full of highlights. The neck is slightly thick to match the plump body, resulting in a powerful form overflowing with rustic charm. The strength seen in Urakami’s ceramic sculptures is truly captured in this sake bottle. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Rim 3.5cm × Body diameter 9.3cm × Body diameter 9.3cm × Height 13.3cm; Capacity approx. 350cc Zenji Urakami (1914–2006) was born in Inbe and began his path in ceramics under Shunko Nishimura. In 1935, he became a pupil of Japan Art Academy member Seibo Kitamura to study sculpture, and also learned wood carving from Shin Naito and drawing from Saburo Okada and Sakujiro Okubo. He excelled in creating realistic, life-like animal figurines, bronze statues, and ceramic wall murals. 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 cow figurine won a gold medal at the Le Salon 300th Anniversary Exhibition. That same year, he was designated a Holder of Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Cultural Property. He passed away in March 2006.
Awards: Recipient of numerous honors, including the Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, the Miki Memorial Award, the French Chagall Honorary Award, the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon, the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays, and the Grand Prize at the Salon de Paris exhibition; Member of the Prefectural Exhibition Judging Committee