Bizen sake bottle

This is a Bizen sake bottle by Toyo Kaneshige, the first-generation Living National Treasure and the great restorer of Bizen ware. It is a work where the kiln transformation and the texture of the clay—hallmarks of Kaneshige, who engaged with clay more sincerely than anyone else—are in magnificent harmony. As Bizen ware had lost the elegant style of the Momoyama period and had to be rebuilt from scratch, this piece reflects the meticulous craftsmanship of Kaneshige, who believed the answer lay in the clay itself, the very life of Bizen. From the base of the opening, which is neither too large nor too small, to the refined swelling of the body and the masterfully shaved waist, one is struck by the perfection of the piece the more one looks at it. The body features a soft, pale orange gradation, while the base exhibits a vivid red clay tone, ensuring the excellent usability characteristic of Bizen ware. Original signed box (Shiho-san)
Rim 3.2cm x Body diameter 8.5cm x Body diameter 8.3cm x Height 11.7cm Capacity approx. 320cc

If you prefer to pay by credit card, please contact us as the payment will need to be processed in multiple transactions. Toyo Kaneshige (1896–1967, born in Inbe, Bizen City) was born as the eldest son of Baiyo Kaneshige, from a branch of the Kaneshige family, one of the six traditional Bizen-yaki lineages. He studied under his father and rose to prominence for his handmade teapots (hohin). From the Taisho to the early Showa period, he conducted extensive research and succeeded in recreating the clay texture of Momoyama-period Bizen ware; it was around this time that he began using the potter's wheel and shifted his focus to creating tea ceremony ceramics. He deepened his friendships with Handezhi Kawakita, Toyozo Arakawa, and Kyusetsu Miwa, and in the post-war period, he expanded his artistic range through the influence of Rosanjin Kitaoji and Isamu Noguchi. Due to these achievements, he is known as the restorer of Bizen ware. He was the first Bizen ware potter to be designated a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property, and in 1964 and 1966, he was invited as a guest lecturer for the summer session at the University of Hawaii. In 1967, he performed a pottery demonstration for the Emperor and Empress Showa 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.