{"product_id":"p4368","title":"Bizen ware teacup","description":"This is a Bizen tea cup by the late Toyo Kaneshige, a Living National Treasure and the great restorer of Bizen ware. The \"To\" (ト) mark is thick and short, indicating this is a late-period work from the latter half of the 1950s. It is made using the highest grade of Bizen Kannon clay, and its simple, perfectly fired surface features an indescribable hue. While the base color is shiso-red, it contains a variety of shades including reddish-purple, orange, and deep purple, embodying the charm of Bizen clay—never flashy, but increasingly captivating the more one learns about and gazes upon it. It is a standard size among Master Toyo's tea cups, offering the exceptional comfort of use one would expect from a top-tier piece, thanks to its well-balanced weight and easy-to-use rim. Furthermore, the clay itself is extremely fine-grained, with a soft, supple texture.\n\nBox identified by Kosuke (Shiho-zan style)\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 7.8cm x Diameter 7.8cm x Height 9.4cm\n\nToyo Kaneshige (1896–1967, born in Ibe, Bizen City) was born the eldest son of Baiyo Kaneshige, of a branch family of the Kaneshige clan, one of the six traditional Bizen pottery families. He studied under his father and rose to prominence for his handmade teapots (hōhin). From the Taisho to early Showa periods, he conducted extensive research and successfully recreated the clay texture of Momoyama-period Bizen ware; it was around this time that he began using the potter's wheel and dedicated himself to creating tea ceremony ceramics. He deepened friendships with Handoji Kawakita, Toyozo Arakawa, and Kyusetsu Miwa, and after the war, he expanded his artistic range under the influence of Rosanjin Kitaoji and Isamu Noguchi. For these achievements, he is called the restorer of Bizen ware. He was the first Bizen potter to be designated a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property, and was invited as a summer lecturer at the University of Hawaii in 1964 and 1966. In 1967, he gave a demonstration before the Emperor and Empress during their visit to Bizen.\u003cbr\u003e\nMajor awards: Chugoku Cultural Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, Medal with Purple Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Rosette.","brand":"金重陶陽","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618600439905,"sku":"4368","price":250000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/4368.jpg?v=1790238992","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p4368","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}