{"product_id":"p6063","title":"Bizen-ware faceted sake bottle","description":"This is a recent Bizen tokkuri (sake bottle) by the brilliant Harada Juro, a prodigy who was said to have a \"terrifying future\" when he studied antique Bizen alongside the great Bizen benefactor, Katsura Matasaburo.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThis piece comes from the very last kiln Harada fired himself, and it perfectly captures the defining characteristics of \"Juro-Bizen\"—a dignified clay body heavily coated in bold, dramatic natural ash glaze (goma).\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe rich texture, packed with the knowledge and technical expertise he cultivated through his research into antique Bizen, is exquisite, and the distinctive blue-tinged goma, a hallmark of Juro's work, is magnificent.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe overwhelming presence of the form, created with sharp ridges (shinogi) as if slashed with a sword, is deeply captivating. It is truly refreshing to see the bold, fearless execution, completely unconcerned with damage, deformation, or tearing.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFurthermore, the aforementioned blue ash glaze reacts sensitively to the subtle ridges in the clay created by the shinogi, producing delicate gradations and an endlessly changing expression.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWhile it possesses the commanding presence of a rock when held in the palm of your hand, it takes on a dignified, profound atmosphere when used as a single-flower vase.\n\nSigned wooden box (shiho-san)\u003cbr\u003e\nRim 3.1cm x Body 10.1cm x Body 9.8cm x Height 11.6cm Capacity approx. 140cc\n\nHarada Juro was born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture, in 1941.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAfter graduating from Meiji University, he worked as a company employee before beginning his ceramic career around 1969.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe built an ana-gama (tunnel kiln) in 1971 and a climbing kiln the following year, commencing full-scale production.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nStarting in 1975, he visited ancient kiln sites and studied antique Bizen under the guidance of the antique Bizen researcher Matasaburo Katsura.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1991, he built an ana-gama in Amidayama, Ushimado.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe was particularly skilled at making mortars (suribachi) and created flower vases, tea utensils, and sake vessels primarily using the coil-building technique, with some parts thrown on the wheel.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe held solo exhibitions throughout Japan, including in Tokyo and Osaka.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1983, he held a two-person exhibition with Kenji Funaki of Fushina ware at the National Museum of Ethnology in Australia.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 2000, he received the Japan Ceramic Society Award.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 2002, his work was exhibited and acquired by the Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu, for its opening commemorative exhibition.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 2005, his work was acquired by the New Orleans Museum of Art in the United States.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe passed away in 2024.","brand":"原田拾六","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618027524193,"sku":"6063","price":120000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/6063.jpg?v=1790231253","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p6063","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}