{"product_id":"p6444","title":"Bizen sake jar","description":"A newly fired Bizen sake jar by Takashi Soga, an artist who challenges the beauty of antiquity by recreating the same environment in which ancient Bizen ware was fired.\u003cbr\u003e\nThis is his latest work, removed from the kiln in December 2021.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nTo replicate the firing methods of the ancient Bizen era, this piece was fired in a kiln made entirely of clay— eschewing the firebricks that were not available at the time and defying the conventional wisdom of modern kiln firing.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nBecause the all-clay kiln itself acts as one giant piece of pottery, the works produced within it transcend modern aesthetics, exhibiting a superb quality of clay that approaches the look and feel of ancient Bizen.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn Soga-sensei’s kiln, the clay structure itself undergoes transformation with every firing, a characteristic that causes the finish of the pieces to constantly evolve; this particular work features a metallic black surface with cloudy, white \"goma\" (ash glaze).\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nBased on the \"suzume-guchi\" (sparrow-mouth) small jars found in ancient Bizen, the artist has added his own unique interpretation, changing the lower section into a vertical, seed-jar-like design to improve its utility as a sake vessel, while creating a more stylish and sleek form.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAs the name \"shuko\" (sake jar) suggests, it is designed for sake; it can be used as a katakuchi (spouted) sake pitcher holding slightly over 180ml, as a jar-shaped cup, or with a wooden lid as a lidded container, making it a piece that tickles the fancy.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWhile different from the cream-colored ash glaze of ancient Bizen, it features complex, layered grey ash markings that are somewhat reminiscent of ancient Iga ware.\n\nSigned wooden box to be provided later (please note that it will take some time before the item can be shipped.)\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 8.6cm x 8.4cm x Height 12.2cm. Capacity: approx. 270cc up to the shoulder.\n\nTakashi Soga was born in Tokyo in 1984.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe studied under Jun Isezaki in 2009 and built a kiln made entirely of clay without the use of firebricks in Kugui, Bizen City, in 2012.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe became independent and began his pottery career in 2013.","brand":"曽我 尭","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618052526177,"sku":"6444","price":33000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/6444.jpg?v=1790231539","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p6444","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}