Hello everyone, how are you doing?
Today, as the second installment of new works by Kosuke Kaneshige, I would like to introduce a sake cup with a beautiful yohen (kiln-transmuted) glaze.
Among the footsteps of Toyo Kaneshige, who served as a major turning point in modern Bizen ceramic history,
perhaps the most significant influence seen today is the popularization of the Bizen sake cup.
I have never met a Bizen potter who does not make sake cups.
Certainly, from a business perspective as well, I consider the sake cup to be an essential category.
Although in terms of work types, the sake cup is in the smallest class, why is it loved by so many people?
I myself have recently become captivated by the deliciousness and fragrance of sake,
and it has become part of my daily routine to enjoy a quiet moment while admiring the texture of the earth as I enjoy my evening drink with a Bizen sake cup.
And lately, I have often come to feel that the sake cup is a brilliant supporting actor.
I used to think that the Bizen sake cup should be the star of a drinking party,
but it seems that was incorrect; the sake is the true lead, and the cup is the escort.
In its role of smartly carrying sake—an entirely foreign substance—to the lips,
the cup enhances the taste and aroma of the sake while ensuring the audience—the lips—does not feel any discomfort.
This alone is a very difficult role, but it does not stop there;
after it has finished carrying the sake, the spotlight shines on the cup and it becomes the star.
Now, amid the lingering aftertaste of the sake, it must entertain the audience with the individual charm of the cup itself as a performer.
I feel it requires a performance worthy of an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
In great films, supporting characters often gain immense popularity,
and perhaps a wonderful sake cup is much the same.
Considering this, because the demands are so high, it makes for a work worth tackling for a potter.
Many potters truly seem to enjoy making sake cups with freedom and ease.
They are works that are full of personality and allow you to directly touch the emotions and thoughts of the artist during your drinking session,
and they are wonderful objects that, though small, have a presence that involuntarily draws the eye.
Stunning kumadori (shading) and scarlet hues appear on the front.
When you rub sake into it, the faint scarlet hue takes on a magnificent color.
The undulation of the rim is quite dramatic, making it fun to find the perfect spot to drink from.
The ash-covered areas feature purple-silver carbonization.
The interior features a lovely gradient from soft gray to a deep ash-covered gray.
The clean foot carving shows no sense of artifice and fulfills its role as a supporting player.
What did you think of the new Bizen sake cup by Kosuke Kaneshige?
Words just overflow when looking at this piece, and I found myself drifting away from the product introduction.
With its clean construction, it connects your lips and the sake without any sense of discomfort,
and after use, it captivates you with a magnificent solo performance through its stunning earthen texture.
This soft scarlet hue of the Kaneshige school is unique; it is a color found only among them, neither purely red nor pale yellow.
This earthen texture, which can only be seen after years and decades of laborious soil preparation,
is much like a veteran supporting actor who, after decades of building a career, radiates dignity, pathos, and an exquisite presence.
(Kosuke Kaneshige / Bizen Sake Cup size: diameter 7.0cm × diameter 6.9cm × height 6.0cm price:Sold)
For detailed images and other information about the work, please contact us below.
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