Bizen ware plate

This is a Bizen ware plate by the late Living National Treasure and great restorer of Bizen ware, Kaneshige Toyo. At first glance, it appears to be a simple and easy-to-use round plate, yet one can discern the signature technique and *tsuchi-aji* (the aesthetic quality of the clay) of Kaneshige Toyo in its firing and construction. Crafted using an abundance of select ceramic clay, renowned as the finest in Bizen, the piece is remarkably light, thin, and easy to handle—a feat in itself given the notoriously difficult nature of this clay. Despite its surprisingly light construction, it possesses a substantial visual presence, perhaps due to the subtle oval shape and the beautiful curves it traces. The variation in the clay's character can be summed up in the word "yugen" (profound, mysterious beauty); from the brownish hues on the front to the orange and *shiso* (perilla-leaf) colors on the back, the surface offers a rich variety of tones that never tire the eye. (*Please note: There is a flake on the foot rim that is believed to have occurred during firing.) Box identified by Kosuke (Shiho-zan style)
Diameter 24.7cm × Diameter 24.0cm × Height 5.7cm Kaneshige Toyo (1896–1967, born in Inbe, Bizen City) was the eldest son of Kaneshige Baiyo, of a branch of the Kaneshige family, one of the six traditional Bizen pottery families. He studied under his father and rose to prominence for his handmade *hohin* teapots. From the Taisho period through the early Showa period, he conducted extensive research and succeeded in recreating the clay texture of Momoyama-period Bizen. It was during this time that he began using the potter's wheel and dedicated himself to the creation of tea ceramics. He deepened his friendships with Kawakita Handeishi, Arakawa Toyozo, and Miwa Kyusetsu, and after the war, expanded his artistic range through the influence of Kitaoji Rosanjin and Isamu Noguchi. For these achievements, he is known as the restorer of Bizen ware. He was the first Bizen potter to be designated a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property by the Japanese government, and in 1964 and 1966, he was invited to serve as a summer lecturer at the University of Hawaii. In 1967, when Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun visited Bizen, he demonstrated his craft in their presence.
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.