Bizen Yunomi

This new Bizen tea cup, just fired this June, is a work by Takashi Soga, who challenges the aesthetic of antiquity by recreating the same environment in which Old Bizen was fired. To replicate the style of the Old Bizen period, no firebricks or similar modern materials are used; consequently, the kiln is fired in a way that defies all modern common sense regarding internal thermal efficiency. Because of this, the piece displays a superb earthy quality that transcends modern beauty, approaching that of Old Bizen itself. The base of the clay, with its reddish-brown hue, features eruptions of iron and inclusions of fine stones, creating a texture so authentic it could easily be mistaken for Old Bizen. This is further enhanced by a deeply fired crimson *hi-dasuki* (fire cord) pattern; by applying gold accents only to the *hi-dasuki*, the pattern blends into the clay body while simultaneously emerging in the light—a deeply sophisticated aesthetic. Having used a similar piece from Takashi Soga’s studio myself, I found that the more it is used, the softer and more familiar the texture becomes, resulting in an indescribably gentle tactile experience. Paper box
Diameter 7.6cm x 7.6cm x Height 9.3cm Takashi Soga was born in Tokyo in 1984. He studied under Jun Isezaki in 2009 and built his own kiln in Kugui, Bizen City, in 2012. He became independent and began his career as a ceramic artist in 2013.