Bizen Sake Cup

This is a Bizen sake cup by Takashi Soga, who challenges the beauty of antiquity by recreating the same environment in which Old Bizen was fired. To replicate the style of the Old Bizen era, he avoids the use of modern materials such as firebricks, resulting in a kiln that defies modern logic regarding thermal efficiency; consequently, it produces a texture that transcends contemporary aesthetics to rival the excellence of Old Bizen pottery. The mellow scarlet hue is not the result of low-firing, but the natural color of the clay after being thoroughly kiln-hardened, perfectly reproducing the deep red surface characteristic of the Old Bizen style. The wrapped *hidasuki* (fire-cord) markings show a dramatic contrast between the front and back: the front displays a rich, intense scarlet sash draped over the red ground, while the back features shadows of *goma* (ash glaze) that appear as if they were created with a wax-resist technique. Like the surface of Old Bizen ware, fine particles can be seen within the clay, embodying the texture of the ancient style that Soga-sensei so masterfully reproduces—true to his boast that "you cannot fire a great piece without great materials." As you use it, the clay will continue to mature, harmonizing with the sake and developing an indescribable depth of character. Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
W 6.0cm x W 6.0cm x H 5.2cm 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 in 2013 and began his career as a ceramic artist.