Bizen Syuhai

This is a Bizen sake cup by the world-renowned master Zenji Uragami, a recipient of numerous honors and an Intangible Cultural Property holder. True to Uragami-sensei’s style, this piece features a body shaped close to a flat design, paired with a relatively high foot, giving it a solid and atmospheric presence. While the large foot gives the cup a low center of gravity and a substantial feel, the rim is tapered and thin for ease of drinking. The exterior is adorned with "linear hidaski" (fire-cord) markings that wrap around the foot, while the interior features "planar hidaski" markings placed as if laid upon the surface. Original signed wooden box (with two-way struts)
Diameter 7.2cm x 7.1cm x Height 4.8cm Zenji Uragami (1914–2006) was born in Inbe and began his journey in ceramics under the tutelage of Shunko Nishimura. In 1935, he became a student of Japan Art Academy member Seibo Kitamura to study sculpture, while also learning wood carving from Shin Naito, and drawing from Saburo Okada and Sakujiro Okubo. He excelled at creating lifelike animal figurines, bronze statues, and ceramic murals based on realism. His major works include the ceramic wall at Okayama Airport, the ceramic plaque of Grand Master 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. That same year, he was designated as a holder of an Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Cultural Property. He passed away in March 2006.
Awards and honors include the Okayama Prefectural Cultural Award, the Miki Memorial Award, the French Chagall Honorary Award, the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon, the Order of the Sacred Treasure, 5th Class, and the Grand Prix at the Salon de Paris, among many others / Member of the Prefectural Exhibition judging committee