{"product_id":"388","title":"Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection Artist, Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition Grand Prix Winner: Shigekazu Nagae - \"Form of Tsuchinoto-Ushi\" Celadon Glazed Porcelain Covered Sake Vessel, Japanese Shot Glass, Made in 2008 #388","description":"\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"17\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis porcelain vessel with lid,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e titled \"Form of Tsuchinoto-Ushi\" (Kichu no Katachi),\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is crafted by Shigekazu Nagae,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e a top runner in modern Japanese ceramic art whose works are housed in major museums worldwide,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Born in 1953 in Seto City,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Aichi Prefecture,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e he sublimated industrial slip-casting techniques into artistic porcelain sculptures,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e sweeping major domestic and international ceramic awards such as the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition Grand Prix,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e the International Ceramics Competition Mino Grand Prix,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and the Grand Prix at the Nyon International Porcelain Triennial in Switzerland.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Featuring a striking contrast between silky white porcelain polished to a matte finish and translucent pale-blue celadon glaze lining the interior,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e this work was originally created as an incensory (kogo),\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e a refined tea ceremony vessel.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e However,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e removing the lid transforms it into a sake vessel with a beautiful profile,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e presenting a special lifestyle proposition to global connoisseurs as a covered Japanese shot glass that quietly seals in aromas to luxuriously savor matured whisky or rare aged sake.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"18\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eExamining the fine details of this piece reveals Shigekazu Nagae's signature mastery—the precise control of heat and gravity—alongside an exceptionally refined sculpting beauty displayed without reserve.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Created with inspiration drawn from the concept of Tsuchinoto-Ushi (Ox),\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e the zodiac sign for 2009,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e the top of the lid features a powerful,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e organic,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and fluid horn-like sculptural motif evocative of a bull's two horns.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The triangular body and exterior white porcelain surface,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e finished with meticulous hand-sanding,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e exhibit a graceful matte texture that softly absorbs light.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Meanwhile,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e the interior of the vessel and the concave areas of the lid are filled with rich,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e nuanced pale-blue celadon glaze reminiscent of a clear blue sky,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e casting a captivating deep blue gradation at the bottom.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e In the center of the underside,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e the artist's handwritten signature \"己丑\" (Tsuchinoto-Ushi) is inscribed in blue,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e achieving a high-level harmony between sculptural perfection and functional utility.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"19\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRegarding the period of production,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e it can be objectively specified as created in 2008 based on its nature as a zodiac artwork themed after \"Tsuchinoto-Ushi\" (Year of the Ox 2009) alongside the production cycle aimed at New Year exhibition debuts.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e Eschewing mass production,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Mr.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Nagae's small-scale works—individually brought forth through advanced mold-forming,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e multi-stage hand polishing,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and deformation control during firing—possess extraordinary scarcity value in the international art market.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The vessel body itself shows no damage such as chips or cracks,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e maintaining excellent condition in both the texture of the white porcelain and the coloration of the celadon glaze.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e It comes complete with a dedicated original box (Tomobako) bearing the artist's handwritten calligraphy and red seal,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e a wrapping cloth (fukusa),\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and an instructional leaflet (shiori).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"20\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eShigekazu Nagae (b.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 1953)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"21\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist's Key Activities:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e[1979\/1986] Grand Prix at Chunichi International Ceramic Art Exhibition; [1992] Grand Prix at Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition; [1997] Grand Prix and Prince Katsura Prize at the 14th Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition; [1998] Grand Prix at the 5th International Ceramics Competition Mino,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Grand Prix (Prix Poisson d'Or) at the 5th Nyon International Porcelain Triennial in Switzerland; [2004] Received Aichi Prefectural Arts and Culture Encouragement Award\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"22\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWorks Housed In:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eThe Metropolitan Museum of Art,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Victoria and Albert Museum,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA),\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e National Museum of Sèvres,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Ariana Museum,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e National Gallery of Australia,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"animating\"\u003e Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Museum of Modern Ceramic Art Gifu,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e among many others\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"23\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod of Production:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eMade in 2008\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"24\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eVery good (no chips,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e no cracks)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"25\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAccessories:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eDedicated original box (Tomobako),\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e wrapping cloth,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and instructional leaflet (Shiori) included\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"26\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003ePorcelain (pale-blue celadon glaze,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e matte white porcelain)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"27\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eHeight approx.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 8.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e3 cm,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Width approx.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 8.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e0 cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"28\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCaution:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eAll products offered by our shop are listed as pre-owned items due to their historical production period,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e even if unused.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Products may have age-related damage,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e so please consider purchasing after understanding and verifying these condition details.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Antique Liquor","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48296538177723,"sku":null,"price":55000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0652\/0510\/8923\/files\/IMG_2793_result.jpg?v=1789268562","url":"https:\/\/antiqueliquor1926.com\/en\/products\/388","provider":"Antique Liquor","version":"1.0","type":"link"}