Bizen Beer Drinker

This Bizen beer tumbler is the work of Makoto Kaneshige, who inherited the Maruyama Kiln as the eldest son of Sozan Kaneshige. He captivates many with his work, which harmonizes delicate and elegant clay textures with powerful forms. Adhering to the core philosophy of Bizen ware established by the Kaneshige family—eschewing excessive decoration to let the clay speak for itself—the tumbler features a minimalist diamond-shaped rim that harmonizes with the whole, creating a magnificent silhouette. The raw clay surface, accented with a subtle spice of sand grains, allows one to enjoy the flow of beer and the aroma of the grain, then cherish the living clay in the palm of one's hand, and finally delight the eyes with its surface dampened by the cold beer. The clay body, with a faint golden sheen, has taken on a bright caramel hue that perfectly complements the rich, molten-textured yellow sesame glaze.

View blog post about this beer tumbler Signed wooden box (lid with two crossbars)
Diameter 7.3cm x Diameter 7.2cm x Height 12.7cm Makoto Kaneshige is the eldest son of Intangible Cultural Property holder 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, characterized by his deep firing techniques. He strives to eliminate decoration as much as possible, focusing on channeling his soul directly into the clay. He rarely enters public exhibitions, preferring to present his work primarily through solo exhibitions. He actively holds exhibitions annually at department stores and other venues in Okayama, Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, and Kumamoto, and in 1995, he held a solo exhibition in Munich, Germany. In 1997, his work was also featured in the Bizen Ware Paris Exhibition.