{"product_id":"p6110","title":"Bizen sake bottle","description":"This is a Bizen sake bottle by the remarkably talented Harada Juro, a master who studied old Bizen pottery alongside the great Bizen scholar Matasaburo Katsura, who once famously remarked that Harada was \"a prodigy with a frightening future.\"\u003cbr\u003e\nJudging by the condition of the box and the included biography, this piece was likely created between the late Showa and early Heisei periods.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIts rich texture, infused with the knowledge and techniques honed through his research into old Bizen, is truly exquisite, offering a soft, fresh clay quality that is rarely seen in works today.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe dense, viscous clay quality is roughly divided into three parts: soft scarlet, gold-tinged shiso-red, and dark kiln-change tones, resulting in a sake bottle that promises an excellent patina through use.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe scarlet section, in particular, combined with the smooth, fine-grained clay, has an allure that makes one want to start seasoning it with sake immediately.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWhile the small, unpretentious, and honest form is lovely, the entire piece is adorned with very fine, delicate spatula work, which, combined with the aforementioned rich clay quality, radiates an irresistible charm.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAlthough this is an earlier work, there are no signs of dirt or use.\u003cbr\u003e\n\nSigned wooden box (shiho-zan) included.\u003cbr\u003e\nMouth diameter 3.5cm x Body diameter 8.6cm x Body diameter 8.4cm x Height 9.6cm. Capacity approx. 180ml.\u003cbr\u003e\n\nHarada Juro was born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture, in 1941.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAfter graduating from Meiji University, he worked for a company before beginning his pottery career around 1969.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe built an anagama kiln in 1971 and a climbing kiln the following year, commencing full-scale pottery production.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nStarting in 1975, under the guidance of Bizen scholar Matasaburo Katsura, he visited ancient kiln sites to research old Bizen pottery.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1991, he built an anagama kiln in Amidayama, Ushimado.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nParticularly renowned for his suribachi (grinding bowls), he produced vases, tea wares, and sake vessels primarily using coil-building techniques, with some elements thrown on the potter's wheel.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe held solo exhibitions throughout Japan, including in Tokyo and Osaka.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1983, he held a two-person exhibition at the National Museum of Ethnology in Australia with Fushina-ware master Kenji Funaki.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe received the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 2000.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 2002, his work was exhibited and acquired for the opening commemorative exhibition of the Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 2005, his works were acquired by the New Orleans Museum of Art in the United States.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe passed away in 2024.","brand":"原田拾六","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618031554657,"sku":"6110","price":98000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/6110.jpg?v=1790231287","url":"https:\/\/www.tourakuen.jp\/en\/products\/p6110","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}