{"product_id":"p6010","title":"Bizen Sake Cup","description":"This is a new Bizen sake cup, freshly removed from the kiln in July, by Takashi Soga, an artist who challenges the beauty of antiquity by recreating the same conditions under which ancient Bizen pottery was fired.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nTo replicate the firing style of the ancient Bizen era, this piece was fired in a kiln made entirely of clay—avoiding the firebricks that did not exist at the time—where modern firing conventions do not apply.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe clay-only kiln acts as one massive piece of pottery itself, and because of this, it imparts an exquisite quality to the clay that transcends modern aesthetics, approaching the feel of ancient Bizen.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nSoga's clay kiln undergoes transformation with every firing, a characteristic that causes the finish of his works to subtly change each time they are removed from the kiln.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn this piece, the artist's signature understated *hidasuki* (fire-cord) skin shifts abruptly, with a charcoal-like *haikaburi* (ash-covered) effect blanketing half of the vessel.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAt first glance, it may appear scorched or soot-covered, but upon closer inspection, it reveals a moist luster, almost like a wet stone—a truly unique finish characteristic of Soga’s singular style.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe *hidasuki* portion remains as deeply refined as ever, assimilating into the skin of the pottery; it is a mysterious scene that could aptly be named \"kiln-transformed *hidasuki*.\"\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWhile maintaining his simple sculptural form, Soga has given this piece a slightly greater thickness than his previous works.\n\nSigned wooden box (shiho-san)\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 6.0cm × 5.9cm × Height 5.5cm\n\nTakashi Soga was born in Tokyo in 1984.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 2009, he began an apprenticeship under Jun Isezaki.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nSubsequently, in 2012, he built his own kiln in Kuku-i, Bizen City, using only clay and no firebricks.\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":46618702938209,"sku":"6010","price":11000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/6010.jpg?v=1790240782","url":"https:\/\/www.tourakuen.jp\/en\/products\/p6010","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}