Bizen sake bottle

This is a Bizen sake bottle by Susumu Kaneshige, the eldest son of the master potter Sozan Kaneshige, whose work captivates many with its harmony of delicate, elegant clay texture and powerful form. As a piece exhibited at a solo exhibition, its quintessential ash-covered *yohen* (kiln change) possesses an elegance that overflows from its exceptional firing. It is shaped into a rounded diamond form, with a stunningly highlighted *nuke* (fire-marked area) on one side that instantly captures the eye. The craftsmanship that has captivated numerous ceramics enthusiasts shines through in details such as the spatula marks on the shoulder that firmly define the diamond shape and the slightly tapered rim. This piece was exhibited at a solo exhibition held in Tokyo in 2009, and the catalog in which this work is featured is included. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Rim 2.9cm × Body 9.5cm × Body 9.2cm × Height 13.3cm　Capacity approx. 360cc Susumu Kaneshige is the eldest son of the Intangible Cultural Property holder Sozan Kaneshige. After graduating from the Faculty of Agriculture at Kyoto University, he began his path in ceramics under his father in 1969, becoming independent in 1979. He primarily focuses on tea ceramics using a potter's wheel, characterized by his deeply expressive firing techniques. He strives to eliminate decoration as much as possible, focusing on channeling his soul directly into the clay. He rarely enters public exhibitions, preferring to present his work primarily through solo exhibitions, which he holds energetically every year at department stores and other venues in Okayama, Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, and Kumamoto. He also held a solo exhibition in Munich, Germany, in 1995, and his work was exhibited at the Bizen Ware Paris Exhibition in 1997.