{"product_id":"p6819","title":"Pale Blue Changing Black Shuten-dōji","description":"This is a brand-new *Sohen-guro* (Blue-Variation Black) *shuzumi* (sake cup) fresh from the kiln, created by Yuji Seki, who established his own kiln in Ibaraki Prefecture after training under Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki.\u003cbr\u003e\nThis is his latest work, just removed from the kiln this December.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe piece utilizes the black slip characteristic of the Isezaki school, and is titled \"Sohen-guro\" because the areas where natural ash glaze has accumulated turn a cobalt blue.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nBeneath a golden-hued *goma* (sesame) glaze created by pine wood firing, the cobalt blue of the *sohen* (blue variation) peeks through, resulting in an striking, almost blue-ringed octopus-like coloration.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFor this piece, the artist used slab-building to form the base, then meticulously refined the shape by hand-forming; the resulting form, reminiscent of a Raku tea bowl, possesses an excellent sense of tranquility and gentle distortion.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nUnlike the exterior, the interior black glaze is a deep, ink-like color, creating a captivating *mikomi* (well) that perfectly suits the tranquil nature of the work.\n\nSigned wooden box to follow (please note that it will take some time before we can ship it).\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 6.9cm x 6.8cm x Height 6.7cm\n\nYuji Seki was born in Chiba Prefecture in 1988.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAfter graduating from Tohoku University of Art and Design in 2013, he studied under Jun Isezaki, a Living National Treasure in the field of Bizen ware.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe became independent in 2017 and built his own kiln in Hiyama, Hitachiomiya City, Ibaraki Prefecture, in 2019.","brand":"後関裕士","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618064060513,"sku":"6819","price":13200.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/6819.jpg?v=1790231881","url":"https:\/\/www.tourakuen.jp\/en\/products\/p6819","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}