{"product_id":"432","title":"Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection Artist, Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition Grand Prix Winner: Shigekazu Nagae - \"Form of Otsumi\" Celadon Glazed Porcelain Covered Sake Vessel, Japanese Shot Glass, Made in 2014 #432","description":"\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"17\"\u003eThis porcelain vessel with lid, titled \"Form of Otsumi\" (Otomi no Katachi), is crafted by Shigekazu Nagae, a top runner in modern Japanese ceramic art whose works are housed in major museums worldwide, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Born in 1953 in Seto City, Aichi Prefecture, he sublimated industrial slip-casting techniques into artistic porcelain sculptures, sweeping major domestic and international ceramic awards such as the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition Grand Prix, the International Ceramics Competition Mino Grand Prix, and the Grand Prix at the Nyon International Porcelain Triennial in Switzerland. Featuring a striking contrast between silky white porcelain polished to a matte finish and translucent pale-blue celadon glaze lining the interior, this work was originally created as an incensory (kogo), a refined tea ceremony vessel. However, removing the lid transforms it into a sake vessel with a beautiful profile, 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\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"18\"\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. Created with inspiration drawn from the horns and face of the Ram (Hitsuji), the zodiac sign for 2015, the top of the lid features a powerful, organic, and fluid horn-like sculptural motif. The exterior white porcelain surface, finished with meticulous hand-sanding, exhibits a graceful matte texture that softly absorbs light. Meanwhile, the interior of the vessel and the concave areas of the lid are filled with rich, nuanced pale-blue celadon glaze reminiscent of a clear blue sky, casting a captivating deep blue gradation at the bottom. The artist's handwritten signature in blue is inscribed on the underside of the base, achieving a high-level harmony between sculptural perfection and functional utility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-path-to-node=\"19\"\u003eRegarding the period of production, it can be objectively specified as created in 2014 in preparation for the 2015 zodiac year (Otsumi \/ Year of the Ram), based on clear statements in the artist's handwritten accompanying leaflet such as \"I created 'Form of Otsumi' as the artwork for next year's zodiac\" and \"The start of next year will be a special exhibition at the Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum.\" Eschewing mass production, Mr. Nagae's small-scale works—individually brought forth through advanced mold-forming, multi-stage hand polishing, and deformation control during firing—possess extraordinary scarcity value in the international art market. The vessel body itself shows no damage such as chips or cracks, maintaining excellent condition in both the texture of the white porcelain and the coloration of the celadon glaze. It comes complete with a dedicated original box (Tomobako) bearing the artist's handwritten calligraphy and red seal, a wrapping cloth (fukusa), and an instructional leaflet (shiori) detailing the creative background.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"20\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist: \u003c\/strong\u003eShigekazu Nagae (b. 1953)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"21\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist's Key Activities:\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, 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\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"22\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWorks Housed In:\u003c\/strong\u003e The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Victoria and Albert Museum, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), National Museum of Sèvres, Ariana Museum, National Gallery of Australia, Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Aichi Prefectural Ceramic Museum, Museum of Modern Ceramic Art Gifu, among many others\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"23\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod of Production: \u003c\/strong\u003eMade in 2014\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"24\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition: \u003c\/strong\u003eVery good (no chips, no cracks)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"25\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAccessories:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dedicated original box (Tomobako), wrapping cloth, and instructional leaflet (Shiori) included\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"26\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Porcelain (pale-blue celadon glaze, matte white porcelain)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"27\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/strong\u003eHeight approx. 7.6 cm, Width approx. 7.4 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-path-to-node=\"28\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCaution: \u003c\/strong\u003eAll products offered by our shop are listed as pre-owned items due to their historical production period, even if unused. Products may have age-related damage, so please consider purchasing after understanding and verifying these condition details.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Antique Liquor","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48332227477691,"sku":null,"price":50000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0652\/0510\/8923\/files\/IMG_2750_result.jpg?v=1789268087","url":"https:\/\/antiqueliquor1926.com\/en\/products\/432","provider":"Antique Liquor","version":"1.0","type":"link"}