Bizen ware teacup

This Bizen tea cup is by Takashi Soga, who challenges the aesthetics of antiquity by recreating the same environment in which Old Bizen pottery was fired. To replicate the style of the Old Bizen era, he avoids the use of firebricks and other modern materials, firing the pieces in a kiln that defies modern logic regarding thermal efficiency. As a result, the work transcends contemporary beauty, revealing an exquisite earthiness that rivals that of Old Bizen. This piece features a matte surface on one side and a viscous, glossy surface on the other, both showcasing an indescribably refined reddish-brown hue that strongly highlights the quality of the clay. It is also a fascinating work in terms of texture; the soft, smooth feel combined with the fine black spots of iron that bleed across the piece faithfully recreates the weathered skin of Old Bizen pottery that has aged over hundreds of years. The subtle *hidasuki* (fire-cord) markings are accented with gold, providing a tasteful contrast against the rich, somber earthiness of the clay. Paper box
Diameter 7.5cm × Diameter 7.3cm × Height 9.4cm Takashi Soga was born in Tokyo in 1984. He apprenticed under Jun Isezaki in 2009 and built his kiln in Kukui, Bizen City, in 2012. He became independent and began his career as a potter in 2013.