Ibe Tokkuri

This is an Ibe sake bottle by Michiaki Kaneshige, who was born as the eldest son of the master Toyo Kaneshige and captivated everyone with a style that infused unique sensibilities into tradition. It is adorned with a lively landscape of sesame glaze (goma), sangiri (reduction firing marks), and scarlet hues, making it a sake bottle that promises great joy as you use and nurture it. The form is somewhat large for a work by Michiaki-sensei, with a well-fleshed, substantial feel around the base. The scarlet coloring appears in three distinct areas, yet each varies subtly in shade by the millimeter—a testament to the magical, delicate clay quality characteristic of the Kaneshige family. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Rim 3.7cm x Body diameter 9.1cm x Body diameter 9.0cm x Height 12.9cm; Capacity approx. 390cc Michiaki Kaneshige (1934–1995) was born in Ibe as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige. In 1955, he graduated from the Kanazawa College of Art, specializing in crafts, and became a ceramic artist under the tutelage of his father, Toyo. He was selected for the Asahi Modern Ceramic Art Exhibition three consecutive times starting in 1957. He was also selected for the Nitten Exhibition, and in 1960, he toured various parts of the United States to observe ceramic arts. He became a full member of the Japan Kōgei Association in 1969 and received the Toyo Kaneshige Award in 1970. In 1973, he was appointed as a member of the Issuikai Ceramic Arts Division; in 1980, he received the Japan Ceramic Society Award; and in 1990, he was officially designated as an Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Cultural Property. He excelled in tea ceramics and also created works with geometric forms, such as bowls. His work was also exhibited in overseas exhibitions.