Bizen Handmade Kyusu

This is a handcrafted Bizen ware teapot by the late Toyo Kaneshige, the first Living National Treasure and the great restorer of Bizen ware. Although it is a rare, small-sized teapot, it is crafted with exceptional precision, reflecting the thorough approach to ceramics for which Toyo-sensei was known. The meticulous construction of the lid and spout is captivating to behold. Within the subtle *sangiri* (kiln-altered) scenery, flashes of reddish clay body peek through, offering a wealth of variation despite the work's diminutive size. (Please note that there are signs of use and aging.) Signed wooden box by Domyo (two-sided cross-batten lid)
Diameter (including spout and handle) 10.4cm × Diameter 6.3cm × Height 6.1cm Toyo Kaneshige (1896–1967, born in Imbe, Bizen City) was the eldest son of Baiyo Kaneshige, from a branch of the Kaneshige family, one of the six traditional Bizen pottery lineages. He studied under his father and rose to prominence for his handmade *hohin* teapots. From the Taisho to early Showa periods, he conducted extensive research, eventually succeeding in recreating the clay texture of Momoyama-period Bizen ware. Around that time, he began using a potter's wheel and dedicated himself to creating tea ceremony ceramics. He deepened his friendships with Handeishi Kawakita, Toyozo Arakawa, and Kyusetsu Miwa, and after the war, he expanded his artistic range under the influence of 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. In 1964 and 1966, he was invited as a summer lecturer at the University of Hawaii. In 1967, he performed a demonstration for Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun 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.