Bizen Sake Cup

This is a Bizen sake cup by the world-renowned and highly distinguished holder of intangible cultural property, Zenji Urakami. While it has a somewhat thick and substantial build, the piece is filled with Zenji’s characteristic design elements, such as the foot and the constricted body. The constriction in particular makes it easy to hold with your fingers, providing a stable grip despite the weight of the piece. The vibrant yellow sesame glaze (kigoma) is complemented by a remarkably fresh shiso-colored hue, featuring intricate variations such as gradients and accents of gold. (Please note that while there is no staining, the base and the entire interior show significant signs of wear.) Signed wooden box (shihōzan style)
Diameter 7.1cm × Diameter 7.0cm × Height 5.5cm Zenji Urakami (1914–2006) was born in Inbe and began his path in ceramics under the tutelage of Shunko Nishimura. In 1935, he became a student of Seibo Kitamura, a member of the Japan Art Academy, to study sculpture, while also learning woodcarving from Shin Naito, and drawing from Saburo Okada and Sakujiro Okubo. He excelled at creating life-like animal figurines, bronze statues, and ceramic murals based on realism. His major works include the ceramic mural at Okayama Airport, the ceramic plaque of Grandmaster Oyama at the Kurashiki City Art Museum, the 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. In the 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 numerous honors, including the Okayama Prefectural Culture Award, Miki Memorial Award, France’s Chagall Honorary Award, Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, Fifth Class, and the Grand Prix at the Salon de Paris, among others. / Member of the Prefectural Exhibition judging committee.