Bizen sake cup

This new Bizen sake cup, fresh from the kiln of Mr. Takashi Soga, challenges the aesthetic of antiquity by recreating the same environment in which old Bizen ware was fired. To replicate the style of the old Bizen era, no firebricks or similar materials were used, and the kiln was fired in a way that defies modern common sense regarding internal heat efficiency. As a result, it exhibits an exquisite earthen texture that transcends modern beauty and approaches that of old Bizen. Fired in pursuit of Mr. Soga’s signature kiln transformation (yohen), it features a romantic, tear-shaped "nuke" (clearance mark) amidst a rich ash glaze. Although the heavy ash glaze is carbonized in parts, the texture is remarkably soft to the touch, evoking an irresistible desire to keep stroking the piece while enjoying its austere scenery. The interior and fire-marked areas reveal the weathered earthen quality characteristic of the old Bizen style, and the complex interplay of ochre, gray, and shiso-red hues is a testament to the masterful firing we expect from Mr. Soga. Original signed box to follow (please allow some time for shipping).
Diameter 6.1cm × Diameter 5.8cm × Height 5.5cm Takashi Soga was born in Tokyo in 1984. He apprenticed under Mr. Jun Isezaki in 2009 and built his own kiln in Kukui, Bizen City, in 2012. He became independent and began his pottery career in 2013.