{"product_id":"p5888","title":"Bizen tea bowl","description":"This is a Bizen tea bowl by the globally renowned and highly decorated Intangible Cultural Property holder, Zenji Urakami.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe item includes a ceramic career summary up to 2004, suggesting this is a work from the final years of Zenji Urakami's life.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThis tea bowl features \"Ao-Bizen\" (blue Bizen) created through the strong reduction firing technique that was a specialty of Zenji Urakami and his son, Mitsuhiro. The bluish-gray clay surface exudes a sophisticated atmosphere.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe \"hidasuki\" (fire-cord) markings have also transformed into a deep gray due to the strong reduction, creating a radiant, beam-like pattern across the bluish-gray surface.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nTrue to Zenji Urakami’s signature profound style often seen in his tea utensils and sake vessels, the foot is powerful and thick, while the rest of the body is thin and gracefully formed. Its unassuming, refined shape accentuates the sophisticated scenery of the blue Bizen.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe simple and deep interior of the bowl is sure to make the beautiful green of tea stand out.\n\nSigned wooden box (shiho-san style)\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 15.1cm × 15.1cm × Height 7.3cm\n\nZenji Urakami (1914–2006) was born in Imbe and entered the path of 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, studying sculpture, followed by wood carving under Shin Naito, and sketching under Saburo Okada and Sakujiro Okubo.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe excelled in creating life-like animal figurines, bronze statues, and ceramic murals grounded in realism.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHis major works include the ceramic mural 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 a 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 the Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Cultural Property.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe passed away in March 2006.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAwards include: Okayama Prefectural Cultural Award, Miki Memorial Award, French Chagall Honorary Award, Medal with Blue Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays, Grand Prize at the Salon de Paris Exhibition, and many others \/ Member of the Prefectural Exhibition Judging Committee","brand":"浦上善次","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618015727713,"sku":"5888","price":75000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/5888.jpg?v=1790231136","url":"https:\/\/www.tourakuen.jp\/en\/products\/p5888","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}