{"product_id":"p6823","title":"Bizen tea cup","description":"This Bizen teacup is the work of Takashi Soga, an artist who challenges the aesthetic of antiquity by recreating the same environmental conditions under which ancient Bizen ware was fired.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nTo replicate the kiln-firing style of the ancient Bizen era, the artist avoids the use of firebricks—which did not exist at the time—and fires his works 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 a singular, massive piece of pottery in its own right, and because of this, the works it produces exhibit an exquisite clay texture that transcends modern beauty and approaches that of ancient Bizen.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn Soga’s kiln, the kiln itself transforms with every firing, a characteristic that causes the finish of the pieces to change incessantly; this particular work features Soga’s signature understated \"hidasuki\" (fire cord) pattern with a touch of gold coloring.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nUnlike the sharp contrast between the clay surface and the fire cord seen in modern Bizen ware, the scenery here reflects the subtlety found in casual ancient Bizen pieces, where the fire cord and the clay surface appear as one.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThough the fire cord is so delicate it might almost be overlooked, the way it seems to seep deeply into the clay surface provides a truly exceptional flavor.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nRather than a pale, under-fired scarlet, this piece possesses a \"thoroughly fired scarlet,\" and the overlapping of dark brown, austere fire cord markings perfectly reproduces the skin of ancient Bizen ware.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAs you use it, the surface will be polished, transforming into a matte texture and drawing ever closer to the unpretentious, primal power of true ancient Bizen.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThis piece is crafted to be remarkably lightweight, reflecting Soga's meticulous attention to detail.\n\nNo box included\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 7.0cm × 6.9cm × Height 9.3cm\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 a kiln made entirely of clay, without the use of firebricks, in Kugui, Bizen City.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe became independent and began his career as a ceramic artist in 2013.","brand":"曽我 尭","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618065567841,"sku":"6823","price":8800.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/6823.jpg?v=1790231887","url":"https:\/\/www.tourakuen.jp\/en\/products\/p6823","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}