{"product_id":"p6206","title":"Bizen sake cup","description":"This Bizen sake cup (guinomi) by Takashi Soga is a challenge to the beauty of the past, created by recreating the same environment in which Old Bizen pottery was fired.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nTo replicate the firing style of the Old Bizen era, the artist does not use firebricks—which did not exist at the time—but instead fires his works in a kiln made entirely of clay, where modern firing conventions do not apply.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThis all-clay kiln effectively becomes a single, massive piece of pottery itself, and because of this, the works possess a superb \"tsuchiaji\" (clay character) that transcends modern aesthetics to approach the quality of Old Bizen.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn Soga’s kiln, the kiln itself transforms with every firing, which causes the finish of the pieces to change constantly; this particular work, fired in a slightly earlier kiln, brilliantly reproduces the unique luster characteristic of Old Bizen.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe finish features a clear contrast between the \"goma\" (ash glaze) and the natural clay surface; the goma section displays a lustrous, wet-looking sheen, while the natural clay section exhibits a more subdued glow with golden highlights that resemble platinum.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe luster itself is not merely a simple, glassy smoothness, but rather a mysterious texture that could be called a \"paradoxical sheen,\" combining the matte quality typical of earthenwares with a polished, refined gloss reminiscent of Old Bizen pieces.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe clean, elegant form matches the style, which centers on the character of the clay, resulting in a sake cup that is both deeply captivating and practical to use.\n\nSigned wooden box to follow (we apologize, but please allow some time for shipment.)\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 6.4cm × 6.3cm × Height 5.2cm\n\nTakashi Soga was born in Tokyo in 1984.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe studied under Jun Isezaki in 2009, and in 2012, he built an all-clay kiln that uses no firebricks in Kugui, Bizen City.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe became independent and began his career as a ceramic artist in 2013.","brand":"曽我 尭","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618039386209,"sku":"6206","price":16500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/6206.jpg?v=1790231347","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p6206","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}