{"product_id":"p7573","title":"Bizen Sake Cup","description":"This is a slightly earlier Bizen sake cup by Takashi Soga, who challenges the beauty of antiquity by recreating the same environment in which Old Bizen was fired.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThis piece was removed from the kiln approximately five years ago.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nTo recreate the firing style of the Old Bizen era, the artist avoids using modern firebricks, which did not exist at the time, and fires his work in a kiln made entirely of clay, where modern firing conventions do not apply.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe all-clay kiln acts as one massive piece of pottery itself, and because of this, it imparts a superb earthy quality that transcends modern aesthetics to approach the look of Old Bizen.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn Soga-sensei’s kiln, the clay structure transforms with every firing, a characteristic that causes the finish of each piece to constantly evolve; this work features a stunning, intensely austere *hidasuki* (fire cord) pattern that rivals that of Old Bizen.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe piece is characterized primarily by a reddish-brown clay surface resembling rusted iron, draped with *kinsai hidasuki* (gold-hued fire cords) that appear deep crimson or copper-toned.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAs it is used, the surface will be polished, shifting to a more matte texture and drawing closer to the unadorned, powerful, and rustic clay texture inherent to Old Bizen.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWorks from this period have a substantial thickness throughout, conveying a powerful sense of the undulating clay.\n\nSigned wooden box (shiho-san)\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 7.0cm x 6.8cm x 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 an all-clay kiln without the use of firebricks in Kugu, Bizen City.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe became independent in 2013 and began his career as a ceramic artist.","brand":"曽我 尭","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618198311009,"sku":"7573","price":13200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/7573.jpg?v=1790232923","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p7573","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}