Bizen sake cup

This is a Bizen sake cup by the legendary Toyo Kaneshige, the first-generation Living National Treasure and the great restorer of Bizen ware. This piece dates to around 1965, shortly before the master’s passing. It utilizes Kannon-do clay, which he favored during the final period of his life, resulting in a gentle orange hue—a uniquely Bizen quality that is both rustic and deeply evocative. The "sangiri" (kiln-altered) firing, resembling the draped folds of a monk’s surplice (kesa), is accented by a subtle, flowing golden glaze; nestled between the clay texture and the sangiri, it creates a scene reminiscent of the Milky Way. It is said that the sake cups Master Kaneshige carried with him daily were not those with dramatic kiln transformations, but simple, profound pieces that highlighted the essence of the clay itself. Original box (shiho-zan style)
Diameter 6.6cm × Diameter 6.6cm × Height 5.8cm Master Toyo Kaneshige (1896–1967, born in Ibe, Bizen City) was born the eldest son of Baiyo Kaneshige, from a branch of the Kaneshige family, one of the six traditional Bizen-yaki lineages. He studied under his father and first gained acclaim for his handmade hohin teapots. From the Taisho to early Showa periods, he conducted extensive research, successfully reviving the clay texture of Momoyama-period Bizen ware. It was during this time that he began using the potter's wheel and dedicated himself to creating tea ceremony ceramics. He deepened friendships with Handeishi Kawakita, Toyozo Arakawa, and Kyusetsu Miwa, and after the war, he broadened his artistic scope under the influence of Rosanjin Kitaoji and Isamu Noguchi. For these contributions, he is known as the restorer of Bizen ware. He was the first Bizen artist to be designated a Living National Treasure (Important Intangible Cultural Property), and in 1964 and 1966, he was invited as a lecturer for the summer program at the University of Hawaii. In 1967, he gave a demonstration for Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun during their visit to Bizen.
Major awards: Chugoku Cultural Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, Medal with Purple Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Rosette.