Bizen Sake Cup

This is a Bizen sake cup by Kosuke Kaneshige, the leader of the Kaneshige school, whose father was the great restorer of Bizen ware and Living National Treasure, Toyo Kaneshige. True to the Kaneshige lineage, this piece demonstrates an uncompromising focus on the clay; despite the intense *haikaburi* (ash-covered) effect, the exposed clay texture is profoundly evocative. The areas where the clay peeks through with a subtle reddish hue will undoubtedly take on an even more beautiful character as sake permeates the surface. The refined, understated form cradles sake quietly and gently. The meticulousness of the foot and the expansive interior reveal the artist's immense technical skill, yet what is truly sophisticated is how the work remains balanced and tranquil throughout. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 6.8cm x 6.8cm x Height 5.8cm Kosuke Kaneshige is the third son of Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige. He graduated from the Department of Sculpture at Tokyo University of the Arts in 1968, and completed his graduate studies in sculpture at the same university in 1970. He began presenting ceramic works in 1975, and after serving as a lecturer in the School of Letters and Social Sciences at Tokai University, he returned to his hometown in 1977. He built a climbing kiln in 1982. He creates objects, tea utensils, flower vases, tableware, and sake vessels. In 1991, he created the ceramic mural "Light and Wind" for the Yasuda Fire & Marine Insurance building in Okayama. In 1994, he received the Japan Ceramic Society Award. In 1997, he exhibited at the Bizen Ware Paris Exhibition. He holds solo exhibitions in various locations, including Tokyo and Osaka. In 2012, he was designated as a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property by Okayama Prefecture.