Bizen Tobiguchi Tokkuri

This Bizen *tobiguchi* (kite-beak) sake bottle is by Takashi Soga, an artist who challenges the aesthetic of the ancient by recreating the very environment in which Bizen ware was originally fired. To replicate the style of the Old Bizen period, he avoids the use of firebricks and other modern materials; because the thermal efficiency inside his kiln defies modern conventional wisdom, the pieces fired within it possess a superb earthen quality that transcends contemporary aesthetics and approaches that of Old Bizen. In his constant quest to master the firing techniques necessary to capture the essence of Old Bizen, Soga has successfully recreated the "firmly fired yet melt-in-the-mouth scarlet" characteristic of antique pieces. The hazy scarlet coloring, reminiscent of Old Bizen, is like a flame flickering in the twilight, evoking an irresistible sense of *wabi-sabi* and refined charm that only such subtle hues can create. When this surface is dampened with water or sake, it reaches a state of absolute perfection, fully conveying the exquisite appeal of Bizen sake bottles that have been cherished by connoisseurs for generations. Inspired by Old Bizen *tobiguchi* small jars, the mouth and remarkably wide neck give this piece the intriguing hybrid appearance of both a sake bottle and a jar. Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
Rim 5.2cm x Body 9.5cm x Body 9.4cm x Height 13.0cm, Capacity approx. 360cc Takashi Soga was born in Tokyo in 1984. He studied under Jun Isezaki in 2009 and built his own kiln in Kuku-i, Bizen City, in 2012. He became independent and began his career as a potter in 2013.