Ibe Sake Cup

This is an Ibe sake cup by Michiaki Kaneshige, who was born as the eldest son of Toyo Kaneshige and captivated everyone with a style that incorporated his own unique sensibilities into tradition. It is a piece that features the "kase-goma" (dry sesame glaze) over the entire surface, possessing that wonderfully gentle and pleasant texture characteristic of the Kaneshige school, whose finesse in kase-goma remains unrivaled. It is a rare sake cup by Michiaki-sensei that features a foot, and the smooth movement of the rim, which undulates languidly, is sure to stir the hearts of all who see it. The interior reveals a remarkably delightful, vivid scarlet hue; it seems to possess every element one could hope for in a sake vessel. Iwaki box (Shiho-san)
Diameter 8.4cm x 8.0cm x Height 4.3cm Michiaki Kaneshige (1934–1977) was born in Imbe as the eldest son of the Living National Treasure, Toyo Kaneshige. He graduated from the Kanazawa College of Art, Department of Crafts, in 1955. He studied under his father, Toyo-sensei, and became a ceramic artist. From 1957, he was selected for the Asahi Modern Ceramics Exhibition three consecutive times. He was also selected for the Nitten Exhibition, and in 1960, he visited various parts of the United States to observe ceramic art. In 1969, he became a regular member of the Japan Kogei Association, and in 1970, he received the Toyo Kaneshige Award. In 1973, he was recommended as a committee member for the Issuikai Ceramics Department, in 1980 he received the Japan Ceramic Society Award, and in 1990, he was officially designated as an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Okayama Prefecture. He excelled in tea ceramics and also worked on bowls with geometric forms. His work was also exhibited in international exhibitions.