Bizen tea cup

This is a Bizen tea cup by the late Toyo Kaneshige, a Living National Treasure and the great restorer of Bizen ware. It bears the shorter "To" potter's mark from his later years and is characterized by its uniquely rich *sangiri* (smoky reduction) and *koge-goma* (scorched sesame-like ash glaze) finish, which is quite unusual for a tea cup. Having been fired as if buried in the embers of pine wood, the piece displays the strong effects of reduction throughout. In particular, a faint golden sheen has emerged on the clay surface around the foot, giving the *hidasuki* (fire-cord) markings and the clay itself a radiant hue. The piece is somewhat small with an elegant silhouette; combined with its precisely carved foot, it is a masterpiece that balances the usability and refinement expected of a master craftsman. Signed wooden box (double-slat lid)
Diameter 7.1cm × Diameter 7.0cm × Height 8.6cm Toyo Kaneshige (1896–1967, born in Inbe, Bizen City) was born the eldest son of Baiyo Kaneshige, from a branch family of the Kaneshige clan, one of the six traditional Bizen pottery families. He studied under his father and first gained renown for his handmade *hohin* (teapots). From the Taisho to early Showa periods, he conducted extensive research, eventually succeeding in replicating the clay textures of Momoyama-period Bizen. Around that time, he began using a potter’s wheel and focused his efforts on creating tea ceramics. He formed deep friendships with Hantei Kawakita, Toyozo Arakawa, and Kyusetsu Miwa, and after the war, expanded his artistic scope through 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 potter to be designated a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property, and in 1964 and 1966, he was invited to serve as a summer lecturer at the University of Hawaii. In 1967, he performed a pottery demonstration for 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, Gold Rays with Rosette.