Ibe-yaki Handcrafted Houhin (Tea Pot)

This is a handmade *houbin* (tea pot) from the Ibe kiln by Toyo Kaneshige, the first Living National Treasure and the great restorer of Bizen ware. It is a work that embodies the exquisite technique and elegant taste characteristic of Master Toyo, who sparked the *houbin* boom. The lid, crafted entirely by hand, fits with surprising precision, and the sound of the well-fired Bizen clay rubbing together is pleasant to the ear. The piece was wrapped in a newspaper from 1932; considering that this period marked the beginning of his devotion to Momoyama-style tea ceramics, this piece feels like a turning point in a grand history. It is a work where the long, continuous history of a pottery family and region intersects with the intense passion of a single individual. For that reason, despite its magnificence, it is a mysterious piece that evokes a somewhat poignant and ephemeral feeling.

See blog post about this houbin Signed wooden box (double-braced)
Mouth diameter 9.6cm x Body diameter 8.5cm x Height 5.9cm Master Toyo Kaneshige (1896–1967, born in Ibe, Bizen City) was born the eldest son of Master Baiyo Kaneshige, a branch of the Kaneshige family, one of the six traditional Bizen pottery families. He studied under his father and rose to fame for his handmade *houbin*. From the Taisho era through the early Showa era, he conducted various studies and succeeded in recreating the earthy quality of Momoyama-period Bizen ware; around that time, he began using the potter's wheel and threw himself into creating tea ceramics. He deepened his friendships with Handeishi Kawakita, Toyozo Arakawa, and Kyusetsu Miwa, and after the war, expanded his artistic range through the influence of Rosanjin Kitaoji and Isamu Noguchi. For these achievements, he is called the restorer of Bizen ware. He was designated as the first holder of the Important Intangible Cultural Property for Bizen ware, and in 1964 and 1966, he was invited as a guest lecturer at the University of Hawaii summer session. In 1967, he gave a demonstration of his craft before 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.