Hidasuki Sake Cup

This is a *hidasuki* (fire-cord) sake cup by Sozan Kaneshige, a master Bizen potter beloved by many, who began his career as an assistant to his elder brother, the legendary potter Toyo Kaneshige. While Sozan-sensei began his serious work in Bizen ware at his Maruyama kiln in his mid-fifties, this piece dates from his late sixties and features the electric kiln *hidasuki* firing that became one of his hallmarks. It is a magnificent work that masterfully achieves the ideal form of *hidasuki*—what his student Yoshiteru Koriki-sensei often describes as "the perfect balance of thick and thin fire cords." Rice straw is wrapped entirely around the piece, with a thick fire cord and a thin one positioned perfectly on opposite sides—a masterful technique characteristic of Sozan-sensei, who perfected the art of electric kiln *hidasuki*. The vessel's form is serene and understated, even for Sozan-sensei; the softness of the rim is brought into sharp focus by a single, bold indentation around the body, demonstrating a masterful command of pacing and restraint hidden within a highly dignified aesthetic. Signed paulownia box (shōhōzan style)
Diameter 6.3cm x Diameter 6.2cm x Height 6.0cm Sozan Kaneshige (1909–1995) was the younger brother of Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige, and worked alongside him until around 1951. Renowned as a leading figure in tea ceramics, he excelled in Momoyama-style *hidasuki*. In 1964, he built his Maruyama kiln in the eastern suburbs of Okayama City, and in 1966, his electric kiln-fired Momoyama-style *hidasuki* drew significant acclaim. In 1982, he moved to Inbe and built the Ushigamishita kiln, and in 1983, he was designated a Prefectural Important Intangible Cultural Property. He received the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award, the Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, and the Order of the Rising Sun, Fourth Class. He passed away in 1995.