Bizen Bajouhai

This Bizen horse-riding cup showcases the refined ceramic techniques of veteran Bizen artist Shoji Takahara, who studied under the masters Yozan Isezaki and Furo Ishii. Reflecting the highly intricate design style for which Takahara—trusted for his craftsmanship as a disciple of Isezaki and Ishii—was known, this cup is truly captivating. While horse-riding cups are typically thrown on a potter's wheel in one piece, including the base, this work is further refined by carving the base with a spatula. Because this carving process results in a long, slender base, it is extremely prone to breakage during drying and firing, yet the resulting silhouette, reminiscent of a wine glass, is strikingly impactful. The clay body has a natural, honest quality, featuring a moist texture derived from *ta-tsuchi* (rice field clay), adorned with "tobigoma" (splashed sesame) glaze that has melted into a glass-like finish. Signed wooden box (double-slat lid)
Diameter 6.3cm x Diameter 6.0cm x Height 7.5cm Shoji Takahara entered the world of pottery in 1958, studying under the Intangible Cultural Property holder Yozan Isezaki, where he mastered ceramic sculpture. In 1962, he went on to learn wheel-throwing techniques from the Intangible Cultural Property holder Furo Ishii. He built his own kiln and became an independent artist in 1965. In 1967, he received the Sanyo Shimbun Award at the Chugoku Branch Exhibition. In 1981, he traveled to the United States to study pottery and broaden his perspective, and in 1987, his magnificent pedestal bowl was acquired by the Museum Angewandte Kunst in Frankfurt, West Germany. He passed away in 2000.