Bizen ware small bowl

This is a Bizen ware small bowl by the late Toyo Kaneshige, the first Living National Treasure and the great restorer of Bizen ware. This piece dates from around the mid-1950s, shortly before the artist's passing. It possesses the profound "tsuchi-aji" (clay texture) that makes a piece instantly recognizable as the work of Toyo Kaneshige, featuring variations in color ranging from orange to shiso-red depending on the area. The reverse side, where the piece was fired resting on straw, presents an exquisite landscape: a mellow, melting clay texture intermingled with *hidasuki* (fire cord) markings, accented by the sharp, chiseled *kodaidari* (foot rim) marks. Being a piece defined primarily by its clay texture with minimal ash glaze, the surface sparkles with rich, vibrant colors when moistened. Original wooden storage box (shiho-zan style)
Diameter 17.5cm × Diameter 17.3cm × Height 4.9cm Toyo Kaneshige (1896–1967, born in Inbe, Bizen City) was born the eldest son of Baiyo Kaneshige, from a branch of the Kaneshige family, one of the six traditional Bizen pottery houses. He studied under his father and first gained acclaim for his handmade *hohin* teapots. From the Taisho period through the early Showa period, he conducted extensive research, successfully reviving the clay texture of Momoyama-period Bizen ware; it was during this time that he began working with the potter's wheel and turned his focus toward the creation of tea ceramics. He cultivated deep friendships with figures such as Handei Kawakita, Toyozo Arakawa, and Kyusetsu Miwa, and after the war, he expanded his artistic range through the influence of Rosanjin Kitaoji and Isamu Noguchi. For these accomplishments, he is revered as the restorer of Bizen ware. He was the first Bizen potter to be designated as a Holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property (Living National Treasure), and in 1964 and 1966, he was invited as a guest lecturer at the University of Hawaii summer session. In 1967, he performed a pottery demonstration before Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun during their visit to Bizen.
Major awards: Chugoku Culture Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Okayama Prefecture Culture Award, Medal with Purple Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, Fourth Class, Gold Rays with Rosette.