Bizen sake bottle

This is a past work of Bizen sake bottle by Kosuke Kaneshige, the leader of the Kaneshige family and son of the great restorer of Bizen ware and Living National Treasure, Toyo Kaneshige. It includes a pottery resume from January 1984, suggesting it dates from that period. It is a captivating sake bottle that features a stunning, eye-catching kiln alteration, likely achieved through the use of exceptional clay. It has a slightly elongated, cylindrical *oazuke* shape, showcasing a magnificent, vibrant scarlet color across its front. The rich, jet-black *haikaburi* (ash covering) is, of course, wonderful, but the intensity of the scarlet is overwhelming, reminiscent of a persimmon so ripe it is about to fall. Although this piece was created when Kaneshige was in his early forties, it displays the same disciplined craftsmanship he is known for today; the balance between the shoulder and mouth, and the elegant taper of the body and waist, reflect his high level of technical skill and aesthetic sense. (There are almost no signs of dirt or wear, but please be aware that this is a previous work.) Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Mouth rim 3.3cm × Body diameter 8.9cm × Body diameter 8.8cm × Height 14.7cm Capacity approx. 500cc Kosuke Kaneshige is the third son of Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige. He graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts with a degree in sculpture in 1968 and completed his master’s degree in sculpture there in 1970. He began presenting ceramic works in 1975, and after working as a lecturer at Tokai University's School of Liberal Arts, he returned to his hometown in 1977. He built his *noborigama* (climbing kiln) in 1982. He produces objects, tea utensils, vases, tableware, and sake vessels. In 1991, he created the ceramic mural "Light and Wind" for the Yasuda Fire & Marine Insurance Building in Okayama. He received the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 1994. In 1997, he exhibited at the Bizen Ware Paris Exhibition. He has held solo exhibitions in Tokyo, Osaka, and elsewhere. In 2012, he was designated as a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property by Okayama Prefecture.