Bizen ware vase with lug handles

This is a Bizen ware flower vase by the late Toyo Kaneshige, the first Living National Treasure and the great restorer of Bizen ware. For this piece, he utilized a special selection of *kannon-tsuchi* clay, which he frequently used in his later years, specifically choosing portions with exceptionally low iron content to achieve a bright, refreshing appearance overall. The base is a pale, white-toned clay with a subtle bluish tint, which transitions into a soft caramel color in areas where the fire hit most intensely. The sections exposed to the direct flame and the *hidasuki* (fire-cord) markings exhibit exquisite coloring, a testament to the carefully selected high-quality clay that is the hallmark of Bizen, perfectly expressing the profound and mysterious beauty that lies at the heart of the craft. Even after firing, the clay seems to breathe; its elegant, fragrant-looking texture is so lifelike that it almost tricks the eye into thinking it could be something edible. Box identified by Kosuke (Shiho-san box)
Diameter 12.0cm x Diameter 11.7cm x Height 23.8cm

If you wish to pay by credit card, the transaction will need to be processed in multiple installments, so please contact us for details. Toyo Kaneshige (1896–1967, born in Inbe, Bizen City) was the eldest son of Baiyo Kaneshige, from a branch of the Kaneshige family, one of the six traditional Bizen pottery families. He studied under his father and initially gained fame for his handmade *hohin* (teapot). From the Taisho to early Showa periods, he conducted extensive research and succeeded in recreating the clay quality characteristic of Momoyama-period Bizen. Around this time, he began using a potter’s wheel and dedicated himself to creating tea ceremony ceramics. He deepened his friendships with Handezan Kawakita, Toyozo Arakawa, and Kyusetsu Miwa, and after the war, he expanded his artistic scope through the influence of Rosanjin Kitaoji and Isamu Noguchi. Due to these contributions, he is called the restorer of Bizen ware. He was the first Bizen potter to be designated a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property, and in 1964 and 1966, he was invited as a lecturer for the summer session at the University of Hawaii. In 1967, he gave a demonstration of his craft before Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun during their visit to Bizen.
Major awards: Chugoku Cultural Merit Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Okayama Prefectural Cultural Award, Medal with Purple Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette.