Bizen ware vase with lug handles

This is an exquisite Bizen flower vase with lugs by Sosu 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. This magnificent vase features "kase-yōhen" (matte kiln transformation), which, alongside "kuro-agari" (black-toned kiln transformation), is considered the pinnacle of the Kaneshige school's work. Placed between two rooms, the subtle temperature changes have created a diverse array of scenery on the piece, with highlights including amber, glass-like melted ash glaze ("haikaburi") and the bluish, matte sesame glaze ("kase-goma") characteristic of Sosu-sensei's work. The form is clean and uncluttered to showcase the kiln transformation, brilliantly embodying Sosu-sensei's motto of "Simple, calm, deep." (Please note: there is a kiln crack at the base, but it does not affect use.) Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
Diameter 13.2cm (including lugs) × Diameter 12.3cm × Height 26.7cm Sosu Kaneshige is the eldest son of the holder of intangible cultural property, Sozan Kaneshige. After graduating from the Faculty of Agriculture at Kyoto University, he began his path in ceramics under his father in 1969. He became independent in 1979. He primarily creates tea ceremony ceramics using a potter's wheel and is known for his deep, rich firing style. He avoids ornamentation as much as possible, focusing on channeling his soul directly into the clay. He rarely enters public exhibitions, preferring to focus his energy on solo exhibitions, which he holds actively each year at department stores in cities such as Okayama, Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, and Kumamoto. In 1995, he held a solo exhibition in Munich, Germany, and in 1997, he exhibited his work at the Bizen Ware Paris Exhibition.