{"product_id":"p7257","title":"Bizen Sake Cup","description":"This is a slightly earlier Bizen sake cup by Mamoru Taku, a man widely recognized as a \"clay enthusiast\" who continues his endless journey of research.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nBased on the style and the box, this piece appears to have been fired over a decade ago.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIt is an avant-garde work that utilizes the special clay characteristic of Taku-sensei, the clay enthusiast. While the clay naturally has a crisp, granular texture and a flat, uniform color, he has turned these traits into strengths to create a piece with a primitive charm.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nBecause of the crisp soil quality, the clay reacts sensitively and beautifully to the spatula, and the trimming around the waist combined with the vertical faceted spatula marks stirs up the texture of the clay, drawing out an exquisite allure.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFor the front and reverse sides, the artist has likely used artificial \"fuki-goma\" (blown-on ash), allowing the ash to soak into the dry-textured clay as if snow were piling up.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe form is dynamic, resembling a tea bowl shrunk down, but the constriction is perfectly positioned to fit the fingers, making it extremely comfortable to use.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAlthough it is an earlier work, there are no signs of use or stains.\u003cbr\u003e\n\nSigned wooden box (shiho-san)\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 8.0cm x 7.7cm x Height 5.3cm\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n*Please note that a shipping fee of 800 yen will be automatically added at checkout.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nMamoru Taku was born in Okayama Prefecture in 1952.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe studied the fundamentals of pottery at the Bizen Pottery Center and refined his techniques as an apprentice under Takaaki Kimura starting in 1980.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1983, he built an ascending kiln in the then-town of Saeki, Wake District, and held his first firing in November, establishing himself as an independent artist.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1998, he moved his studio to Takebe Town and built a semi-underground anagama kiln.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe specializes in the research of clay and creates a wide range of works, including sake vessels, flower vases, and tea utensils, with a focus on hi-dasuki (fire-cord) techniques.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe has been selected for numerous exhibitions, including the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition, the China International Ceramic Exhibition, the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition, and the Issuikai Ceramic Art Exhibition.","brand":"多久 守","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618107805793,"sku":"7257","price":8800.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/7257.jpg?v=1790232438","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p7257","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}