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No. 5073
Bizen Tokkuri
¥30,000
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Description
This Bizen sake bottle (tokkuri) is the work of Zenji Urakami, a highly decorated and world-renowned holder of an intangible cultural property. It includes a ceramic history document from around 1989, suggesting it was produced during that period. Although it has a somewhat thick and substantial build, it feels surprisingly light and comfortable in the hand, making it extremely easy to use. The piece features the "shallot" (rakkyo) bottle shape, and its straightforward, unpretentious form perfectly complements the simple, disciplined finish characteristic of Urakami’s work. The deep shiso-purple hue, accented by yellowish sesame-seed glazing (goma), has a dry, crisp texture that seems to speak to the essence of Bizen ware, as told by a master who bore witness to its long history.
Original signed wooden box (shiho-zan) with lid
Mouth: 3.6cm x Body diameter: 9.0cm x 8.8cm x Height: 12.3cm; Capacity: approx. 330cc Zenji Urakami (1914–2006) was born in Imbe and began his path in ceramics under the tutelage of Shunko Nishimura. In 1935, he became a student of Seibo Kitamura, a member of the Japan Art Academy, where he studied sculpture. He also learned wood carving from Shin Naito and sketching from Saburo Okada and Sakujiro Okubo. He excelled in creating lifelike animal figurines, bronze statues, and ceramic wall reliefs based on realism. His major works include the ceramic wall at Okayama Airport, the ceramic plaque of Grandmaster Oyama at the Kurashiki City Art Museum, the bronze bust of Toyo Kaneshige at the Bizen Pottery Museum, and the ceramic statue of Kojima Takanori in Tsuyama City. In 1973, his bull figurine won the gold medal at the Le Salon 300th Anniversary Exhibition. In the same year, he was designated a holder of an important intangible cultural property by Okayama Prefecture. He passed away in March 2006.
Awards: Recipient of numerous honors, including the Okayama Prefectural Cultural Award, Miki Memorial Award, France-Chagall Honorary Award, Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, 5th Class, and the Grand Prize at the Salon de Paris exhibition; Member of the Prefectural Exhibition Jury.
Mouth: 3.6cm x Body diameter: 9.0cm x 8.8cm x Height: 12.3cm; Capacity: approx. 330cc Zenji Urakami (1914–2006) was born in Imbe and began his path in ceramics under the tutelage of Shunko Nishimura. In 1935, he became a student of Seibo Kitamura, a member of the Japan Art Academy, where he studied sculpture. He also learned wood carving from Shin Naito and sketching from Saburo Okada and Sakujiro Okubo. He excelled in creating lifelike animal figurines, bronze statues, and ceramic wall reliefs based on realism. His major works include the ceramic wall at Okayama Airport, the ceramic plaque of Grandmaster Oyama at the Kurashiki City Art Museum, the bronze bust of Toyo Kaneshige at the Bizen Pottery Museum, and the ceramic statue of Kojima Takanori in Tsuyama City. In 1973, his bull figurine won the gold medal at the Le Salon 300th Anniversary Exhibition. In the same year, he was designated a holder of an important intangible cultural property by Okayama Prefecture. He passed away in March 2006.
Awards: Recipient of numerous honors, including the Okayama Prefectural Cultural Award, Miki Memorial Award, France-Chagall Honorary Award, Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, 5th Class, and the Grand Prize at the Salon de Paris exhibition; Member of the Prefectural Exhibition Jury.
Details
- Pottery Type
- Sake bottle
About the Artist
He was born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture in 1914.
He became a disciple of Nishimura Shunko in 1929.
He became a disciple of Seibo Kitamura in 1935.
He died in 2006.
He became a disciple of Nishimura Shunko in 1929.
He became a disciple of Seibo Kitamura in 1935.
He died in 2006.