{"product_id":"p4722","title":"Bizen Sake Cup","description":"This is a set of three Bizen guinomi sake cups by the brilliant and eccentric artist Juro Harada, who was described as a \"prodigy with a terrifying future\" while researching Old Bizen alongside the great benefactor of Bizen ware, Matasaburo Katsura. These are a special-edition three-piece set sold at a Sogo Fukuyama exhibition 20 years ago. Housed in a special box made of Japanese cedar and black persimmon, the incredibly luxurious presentation reflects the fact that these are masterworks by Harada. All three pieces exhibit the intense firing characteristic of Juro Bizen, and their profound landscapes—featuring yellow sesame (ki-goma) and matte sesame (kase-goma) glaze effects—possess an overwhelming presence unmatched by others. Furthermore, they fully express another of his hallmarks: \"a unique, resilient quality of clay that is not lost even under intense firing,\" with a superlative clay texture in the interior and exterior fire-scarred areas that makes one want to rub them against their cheek. Each cup was formed by coiling, and their powerful shapes—as if the clay were condensed with a firm squeeze—make it seem as though the clay is still pulsing with life even after being fired. Yet, they are not too heavy when held, which is a delightful trait for sake vessels; the cup on the left in the photo is slightly heavier, the one on the right is a bit lighter, and the center one feels standard in weight. (This is an older work but remains in unused condition.)\n\nSigned box (special black persimmon edition, four-sided cleated lid)\u003cbr\u003e\nLeft in photo: 7.5cm x 7.2cm diameter, 7.3cm height\u003cbr\u003e\nCenter in photo: 6.8cm x 6.4cm diameter, 7.7cm height\u003cbr\u003e\nRight in photo: 7.3cm x 7.1cm diameter, 7.0cm height\n\nAfter graduating from Meiji University and working for a company, Juro Harada began pottery in 1969. He built an ana-gama kiln in 1971 and a climbing kiln the following year, committing himself fully to his craft. Starting in 1975, he studied Old Bizen by visiting old kiln sites under the guidance of Old Bizen researcher Matasaburo Katsura. In 1991, he built an ana-gama kiln in Amidayama, Ushimado. He produces jars, tea ceremony utensils, and leaf-shaped dishes, primarily using the coiling technique supplemented by the potter's wheel. He has held active solo exhibitions in Tokyo, Osaka, and elsewhere. In 1983, he held a two-person exhibition with Kenji Funaki of Fushina ware at the National Museum of Ethnology in Australia. In 2000, he received the Japan Ceramic Society Award. His work was exhibited at the opening commemoration exhibition of the Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu, in 2002 and is held in their collection. His work was also acquired by the New Orleans Museum of Art in 2005.","brand":"原田拾六","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618657259617,"sku":"4722","price":180000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/4722.jpg?v=1790239436","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p4722","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}