Ibe Tokkuri

This is an Ibe sake bottle by Michiaki Kaneshige, who was born as the eldest son of the master Toyo Kaneshige and captivated everyone with a style that infused his unique sensibilities into tradition. Created after the passing of Toyo Kaneshige, this piece brilliantly displays Michiaki’s mature ceramic technique, featuring a rigorous, disciplined body rising to meet a rim shaped with an upright, dignified posture. While the kiln change (yohen) shows a somewhat pale clay tone, it is balanced by a thorough firing, resulting in a hard, tightly fired texture that suits his serious style. Despite the pale clay, a faint scarlet hue emerges from a small point on the shoulder and within the neck, conveying the vital energy of Kaneshige clay. Original signed box (shiho-san)
Rim 3.6cm × Body diameter 8.7cm × 8.6cm × Height 13.5cm; Capacity approx. 380cc Michiaki Kaneshige (1934–1995) was born in Ibe as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige. He graduated from the Kanazawa College of Art’s Department of Crafts in 1955 and became a ceramic artist under the tutelage of his father. He was selected for the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition for three consecutive years starting in 1957. He was also selected for the Nitten Exhibition, and in 1960, he toured various parts of the United States to observe ceramic arts. He became a regular member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1969 and received the Toyo Kaneshige Prize in 1970. In 1973, he was appointed as a committee member for the Issuikai Ceramic Department, and in 1980, he was honored with the Japan Ceramic Society Award. Finally, in 1990, he was officially designated as an Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Cultural Property. He excelled in tea ceramics and also worked on geometrically shaped bowls. His works were also exhibited at international exhibitions.