Bizen Sake Jar

This brand new Bizen sake jar fresh from the kiln is the work of Takashi Soga, an artist who challenges the aesthetic of antiquity by recreating the exact conditions under which Old Bizen pottery was fired. To faithfully replicate the style of the Old Bizen era, no firebricks or modern aids were used; because the kiln’s heat efficiency defies all modern conventions, the resulting piece displays an exceptional texture that transcends contemporary aesthetics and rivals that of Old Bizen itself. Developed based on the "suzume-guchi" (sparrow-mouth) small jars of the Old Bizen period, the design has been evolved with a vertically elongated base—reminiscent of a seed jar—to improve its utility as a piece of sake ware, resulting in a more stylish and sleek form. Fittingly named "shuko" (sake jar), it can hold a little over 180ml and serves as a versatile piece: it functions as a *katakuchi* sake pourer, a jar-style cup, or, with the addition of a wooden lid, a lidded container—a design that tickles the imagination. The *hidasuki* (fire-cord) pattern, created with the same dedication to clay that defines Soga’s work, has a deceptively weathered, Old Bizen-like appearance but feels remarkably smooth to the touch, inviting you to hold it forever. Signed wooden box to follow (please allow some time for shipping).
Diameter 8.4cm x Diameter 8.4cm x Height 10.9cm; Capacity approx. 300cc Takashi Soga was born in Tokyo in 1984. He studied under Jun Isezaki in 2009 and built his own kiln in Kukui, Bizen City, in 2012. He became independent and began his career as a potter in 2013.