Bizen Guinomi

This is a new Bizen sake cup by Takashi Soga, who challenges the beauty of antiquity by recreating the environment of the era when Old Bizen was fired. To reproduce the style of the Old Bizen period, he avoids the use of firebricks and other modern materials; consequently, the kiln is fired in a way that defies modern common sense regarding internal thermal efficiency, resulting in a superb earthen quality that transcends contemporary aesthetics and rivals that of Old Bizen. While Soga continuously experiments by changing his firing methods with every kiln load, this particular piece is a highly distinctive "fully charred" (so-enoki-hada) work from this latest firing. It features a kiln transformation (yohen) that appeared for the first time in this kiln: a charcoal-like, matte black-gray ash glaze (kase-goma) covering almost the entire surface of the cup, with the exception of part of the interior and the foot. The base clay shows a vibrant, well-fired scarlet hue characteristic of this particular firing, and as the surface wears away with use, this scarlet is revealed, creating a beautiful contrast between red and black. As you continue to use it, the surface will become more weathered, drawing even closer to the parched texture of Old Bizen. Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
Diameter 6.1cm x Diameter 6.1cm x Height 5.6cm Takashi Soga was born in Tokyo in 1984. He studied under Jun Isezaki in 2009 and built his own kiln in Kukuigai, Bizen City, in 2012. He became independent and began his career as a ceramic artist in 2013.