{"product_id":"p5954","title":"Bizen-yaki Chamfered Sake Bottle","description":"This is a new Bizen faceted sake bottle (tokkuri), freshly removed from the kiln in July, by Takashi Soga, an artist who challenges the beauty of antiquity by recreating the same environmental conditions under which ancient Bizen ware was fired.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nTo replicate the kiln-firing techniques of the ancient Bizen era, this piece was fired in an all-clay kiln—one that defies modern firing conventions—by eschewing the firebricks that did not exist at the time.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe all-clay kiln functions as a single massive piece of pottery in itself, and as a result, it produces a superlative texture of clay that transcends modern aesthetics to approach the authentic feel of ancient Bizen.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAt Mr. Soga's kiln, the clay structure itself transforms with every firing, which causes the finish of the works to constantly evolve. In this piece, the artist's signature understated \"hidasuki\" (fire-cord) surface suddenly transitions, with ash glaze covering half of the vessel as if it had carbonized.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAt first glance, it may look scorched and soot-stained, but upon closer inspection, it reveals a moist luster like that of a rain-slicked stone—a truly unique finish characteristic of Mr. Soga's work.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFurthermore, the \"nuke\" (clear patch) on the front presents a metallic, gold-hued hidasuki surface. When wet with sake, the vessel offers an exquisite \"wabi\" landscape, as if one were picking up a scorched stone to rinse it, revealing the beautiful gold surface beneath.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe hexagonal form has been crafted with Mr. Soga's meticulous attention to detail to be surprisingly lightweight, and combined with its peerless kiln-transmutation effects, it exudes a one-of-a-kind presence.\n\nSigned wooden box (shiho-san)\u003cbr\u003e\nRim 3.6cm x Body diameter 8.8cm x Body diameter 8.3cm x Height 15.3cm; Capacity approx. 480cc\n\nTakashi Soga was born in Tokyo in 1984.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 2009, he began his apprenticeship under Jun Isezaki, and in 2012, he built an all-clay kiln without the use of firebricks in Kugui, Bizen City.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe became independent in 2013 and began his career as a ceramic artist.","brand":"曽我 尭","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618693501025,"sku":"5954","price":38500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/5954.jpg?v=1790240728","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p5954","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}