Bizen tea cup

This is a Bizen tea cup by Toyo Kaneshige, the first Living National Treasure and the great restorer of Bizen ware. It is a *kumidashi* (tea bowl) from around 1965, shortly before the master’s passing. It is a magnificent piece that relies solely on the superior quality of the clay—a signature of Master Toyo, who spent his life in sincere dialogue with the earth while Bizen ware struggled through difficult times. The complexion of the clay surface is incredibly intricate, with orange, brown, shiso-red, and purple hues weaving together in a complex tapestry. The more one looks, the more depth and variety it reveals; it never ceases to fascinate, and one cannot help but be awestruck by the quality of the clay and the kiln-firing techniques that bring it to life. This clay quality, distinct from both old and modern Bizen, may be something like a fleeting dream—fired using rare, now-unseen clay through techniques the genius potter spent his life perfecting. Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 8.6cm × Diameter 8.5cm × Height 7.1cm Master Toyo Kaneshige (1896–1967, born in Imbe, Bizen City) was born the eldest son of Baiyo Kaneshige, from a branch of the Kaneshige family, one of the six traditional Bizen pottery families. He studied under his father and rose to fame for his handmade teapots (*hohin*). From the Taisho to early Showa periods, he conducted extensive research and succeeded in recreating the clay texture of Momoyama-period Bizen. Around that time, he began working with the potter’s wheel and dedicated himself to creating tea ceremony ceramics. He deepened his friendships with Handeishi 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 as a summer lecturer at the University of Hawaii. In 1967, he performed a pottery demonstration before 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.