{"product_id":"p6965","title":"Bizen sake cup","description":"This is a Bizen sake cup (guinomi) by the world-renowned and highly decorated master of intangible cultural property, Zenji Urakami.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nA ceramic resume up to the year 1988 is included, suggesting that this piece was created around that time.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nOn the front, a \"botamochi\" marking appears silver and moon-like, while on the back, a \"botamochi\" shaped with a shiso-colored accent resembles the morning sun, creating an ethereal scene that evokes the transition from night to day through a katamigawari (half-and-half) design.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe botamochi inside the cup also gleams with a bluish-silver hue due to the silver glazing, resulting in a sake cup that is simple yet profound in its usability.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe form is Zenji’s signature \"dojime\" (cinched body) style, instantly recognizable, featuring his trademark two spatula marks in the center.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWhile the style is quite large and possesses a strong presence, the cinched design and moderate thinness of the walls make it comfortable to hold, overall creating a straightforward and easy-to-use sake vessel.\n\nSigned wooden box (shiho-san type) included\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 7.3cm x 7.1cm x Height 5.9cm\n\nZenji Urakami (1914–2006) was born in Inbe and began his path in ceramics under the tutelage of Shunko Nishimura.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1935, he became a student of Japan Art Academy member Seibo Kitamura to study sculpture, followed by wood carving under Shin Naito, and drawing under Saburo Okada and Sakujiro Okubo.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe excelled in creating animal figurines, bronze statues, and ceramic murals that were rooted in realism and brimming with vitality.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHis major works include the ceramic wall at Okayama Airport, the ceramic plaque of Grandmaster Oyama at the Kurashiki City Art Museum, the bust of Toyo Kaneshige at the Bizen Pottery Museum, and the ceramic statue of Kojima Takanori in Tsuyama City.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1973, his ox figurine won the gold medal at the Le Salon 300th Anniversary Exhibition.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn the same year, he was designated as a holder of Okayama Prefecture’s Important Intangible Cultural Property.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe passed away in March 2006.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAwards: Many, including the Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, Miki Memorial Award, French Chagall Honorary Award, Medal with Blue Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, Fifth Class, and the Salon de Paris Grand Prix \/ Member of the Prefectural Exhibition Judging Committee","brand":"浦上善次","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618072055905,"sku":"6965","price":20000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/6965.jpg?v=1790232066","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p6965","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}