{"product_id":"p7358","title":"Bizen Sake Cup","description":"This is a brand-new Bizen sake cup, fresh from the kiln of Takashi Soga, who challenges the aesthetic of antiquity by recreating the same environment in which Old Bizen pottery was fired.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThis piece was removed from the kiln in May 2024.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nTo replicate the firing methods of the Old Bizen era, the artist refrained from using modern firebricks—which did not exist at the time—and instead fired the work in an all-earthen kiln that defies the conventional wisdom of modern firing techniques.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe all-earthen kiln itself acts like a single massive piece of pottery; consequently, the work exhibits an exceptional \"tsuchi-aji\" (earthen quality) that transcends modern aesthetics to approach that of Old Bizen.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFor this firing, Soga undertook an unprecedentedly long 19-day process to recreate the \"hidasuki\" (fire-cord) markings that appear integrated into the clay surface, much like those found on casual Old Bizen pieces.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThough the hidasuki is so delicate it might almost be overlooked, the way it seems to seep deeply into the earthen surface gives the piece an exceptional character.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe more you use it, the more the surface will be polished, shifting toward a matte texture and drawing closer to the simple, powerful feel of Old Bizen.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAlthough this sake cup is quite thick and possesses a substantial, heavy presence, the artist’s signature clean form and intensely sophisticated kiln-altered coloring result in a remarkably refined piece.\n\nSigned wooden box (shiho-san style)\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 6.8cm × 6.8cm × Height 5.8cm\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 his own kiln made entirely of earth, without the use of firebricks, in Kuku-i, Bizen City.\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":46618131529825,"sku":"7358","price":16500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/7358.jpg?v=1790232593","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p7358","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}