{"product_id":"p8106","title":"Bizen sake cup","description":"This is a Bizen sake cup by the world-renowned master Zenji Uragami, a recipient of numerous honors and a holder of intangible cultural property status.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nA ceramic biography dated up to 1997 is enclosed, suggesting this is a work from the later years of Zenji Uragami's life.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nOver a candy-colored natural glaze with a strong luster lies a layer of *kase-goma* (dull sesame glaze) that has a wet-looking sheen, creating a mysterious sake cup that seems to subtly reflect light across its entire surface.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe texture of the clay inside also has a relatively strong luster, but it features a chic design of scattered *tobi-goma* (flecked sesame glaze), and it is fascinating how the atmosphere changes completely between the inside and outside.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe form is the signature *dojime* (waisted) style that one can identify as Zenji's work at a glance, with his trademark two spatula marks placed in the center.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe waisted design and the moderately thin construction make it easy to hold, and overall, it can be said to be a straightforward and easy-to-use piece of sake ware.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThis is an unused item that was carefully stored after being purchased new.\n\nSigned wooden box (shihozan)\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 7.1cm x 6.9cm x Height 3.7cm\n\nZenji Uragami was born in 1914 in Ibe, Bizen City (formerly Ibe-cho, Wake-gun), Okayama Prefecture.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1929, he apprenticed under the master craftsman of fine ceramic figures, Shunko Nishimura, and embarked on his path in pottery.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAfter five years of training, he moved to Tokyo, where he studied wood carving under Shin Naito and sketching under Saburo Okada and Sakujiro Okubo. In 1935, he entered the studio of sculptor Seibo Kitamura to study sculpture in earnest.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1938, he submitted a work to the 2nd Bunten exhibition and was selected, followed by successful selections in the 3rd Bunten in 1939 and the 4th Bunten in 1940.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFrom 1950, he served as a lecturer in the ceramics department at Bizen High School for ten years while continuing his creative work as an artist.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nSpecializing in lifelike animal figurines, ceramic statues, ceramic plaques, and ceramic walls grounded in realism, he was active as the leading expert in Bizen ceramic sculpture.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe received a bronze medal at the Le Salon exhibition in France in 1970 and a silver medal in 1971. In 1973, his \"Cow Figurine\" won a gold medal at the Le Salon 300th Anniversary Exhibition.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThat same year, he was designated as a holder of the Okayama Prefecture Designated Important Intangible Cultural Property, \"Bizen Ware Production Techniques.\"\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHis major works include the ceramic wall at Okayama Airport, the Oyama Meijin ceramic plaque at the Kurashiki City Art and Culture Hall, 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 2000, he collaborated with local artists to create a large ceramic wall featuring horses running through the prairie for the train station in Jingdezhen, China.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe passed away in March 2006.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nMajor awards and honors: Le Salon Exhibition (Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals), Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, Miki Memorial Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, France-Chagall Honorary Award, Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, 5th Class, Salon de Paris Grand Prize, etc. \/ Juror for the Okayama Prefectural Art Exhibition","brand":"浦上善次","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618244251745,"sku":"8106","price":16500.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/8106.jpg?v=1790233771","url":"https:\/\/www.tourakuen.jp\/en\/products\/p8106","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}