Bizen Sake Cup

This is a Bizen ware sake cup by the legendary Toyo Kaneshige, the first-generation Living National Treasure and the great restorer of Bizen ware. As a sake cup by Toyo-sensei, this piece is unusual for its playful spirit and a sense of dynamism not typically seen in his work; upon closer inspection, one can see it was created by hand-molding. This hand-molding technique further emphasizes the texture and color of the clay, resulting in a profound work with features such as a boldly carved foot and an elegantly flowing body. The mellow texture of the piece from his later years is magnificent, and the soft, responsive clay even retains the clear imprint of Toyo-sensei's fingerprints. Original signed wooden box (shihozan, double box)
Diameter 6.9cm x Diameter 6.7cm x Height 5.3cm Toyo Kaneshige (1896–1967, born in Inbe, Bizen City) was born the eldest son of Baiyo Kaneshige, from a branch of the Kaneshige family, one of the six traditional Bizen pottery families. He studied under his father and first gained acclaim for his handmade tea strainers (hohin). Through extensive research during the Taisho and early Showa periods, he successfully recreated the clay qualities of Momoyama-period Bizen ware, at which point he began using the potter's wheel and shifted his focus toward tea ceramics. He developed deep friendships with Handeishi Kawakita, Toyozo Arakawa, and Kyusetsu Miwa, and after the war, he expanded his artistic range under the influence of figures like Rosanjin Kitaoji and Isamu Noguchi. For these achievements, he is known as the restorer of Bizen ware. He was the first Bizen potter to be designated a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property, and in 1964 and 1966, he was invited to serve as a summer lecturer at the University of Hawaii. In 1967, he gave a demonstration for the Emperor and Empress during their visit to Bizen.
Major awards: Chugoku Culture Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Okayama Prefecture Culture Award, Medal with Purple Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Rosette.