{"product_id":"p6220","title":"Bizen Ware Potato-Shaped Sake Bottle","description":"This Bizen potato-shaped sake bottle is the work of Takashi Soga, an artist who challenges the beauty of antiquity by recreating the same environment in which ancient Bizen ware was fired.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nTo replicate the firing style of the ancient Bizen era, the piece was fired in a kiln made entirely of clay—a kiln where modern firing conventions do not apply—without the use of modern refractory bricks that did not exist at the time.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe clay-only kiln acts as one massive piece of pottery itself, and because of this, it imparts a superb earthy texture that transcends modern aesthetics and approaches the quality of ancient Bizen.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe bottle features a \"katamigawari\" (split-style) appearance, with one side heavily charred by smoke and the other adorned with *hidasuki* (fire-cord) markings; while the atmosphere differs on each side, both possess the exquisite, refined bitterness characteristic of Soga’s work.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nOn the smoke-heavy side, the clay's composition and natural ash glaze have produced a natural black finish reminiscent of iron glaze, with surrounding areas taking on a texture like melting chocolate.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe other side is wrapped in the intensely rustic *hidasuki* style signature to Soga-sensei; he has masterfully blocked the smoke to create a matte clay surface, while the crimson *hidasuki* markings appear to bleed out from within the skin of the pottery.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWhile it is certainly fascinating to view the *goma* (sesame glaze) and *hidasuki* sides individually, viewing the piece as a whole invites one to reconsider the true allure of Bizen ware.\u003cbr\u003e\n\nOriginal signed box to follow (please note that shipment will take some time).\u003cbr\u003e\nMouth rim 4.0cm x Body diameter 9.6cm x Body diameter 9.6cm x Height 14.6cm; Capacity approx. 500cc\n\nTakashi Soga was born in Tokyo in 1984.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe apprenticed under Jun Isezaki in 2009, and in 2012, he built his own clay-only kiln, without the use of refractory bricks, 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":46618711588961,"sku":"6220","price":33000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/6220.jpg?v=1790240961","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p6220","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}