Bizen Gourd-Shaped Sake Bottle

This is a superb new Bizen gourd-shaped sake flask by So Kaneshige, who inherited the Enzan Kiln as the eldest son of Sozan Kaneshige and captivates many with his harmony of delicate, elegant clay texture and powerful form. Combining stunning kiln-altered colors with a form that is both vigorous and alluring, this is a work of the highest caliber in every aspect—from the clay to the firing—worthy of being exhibited in a solo show. It uses rare rice-field clay that has been aged for many years; whether in the vivid scarlet "nuke" (uncovered areas) on the body—the core of the piece—or the mellow scarlet clay visible inside the rim, every detail, both seen and unseen, possesses a luscious, melting quality. Approximately seventy percent of the piece, from the tip to the waist, is covered in fine, matte "kase-goma" (dry sesame ash glaze), providing a uniquely soft texture that feels as if it adheres to the skin. The slightly tilted neck, paired with a somewhat flattened body, creates a bow-like curve, while the transition between the matte ash and the "haikaburi" (ash-covered) areas, combined with the core "nuke" effect, gives the piece an exceptional sense of presence. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Rim 3.0cm x Body diameter 9.0cm x Body diameter 8.9cm x Height 15.2cm Capacity approx. 300cc So Kaneshige is the eldest son of the Intangible Cultural Property holder Sozan Kaneshige. He began his path in ceramics under his father in 1969 after graduating from the Faculty of Agriculture at Kyoto University. He became independent in 1979. Working primarily on tea ceramics using a potter's wheel, his work is characterized by deep, rich firing. He strives to eliminate unnecessary decoration, focusing instead on projecting his own soul directly into the clay. He rarely enters public exhibitions, preferring to focus his energy on solo shows, which he holds energetically every year at department stores 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 featured in the Bizen Ware Paris Exhibition in 1997.