Bizen tea bowl

This is a Bizen tea bowl by Sozan Kaneshige, a master craftsman who started his career as an assistant to his older brother, the legendary potter Toyo Kaneshige, and went on to create works beloved by many. This flat-shaped tea bowl features a serene aesthetic that pairs perfectly with the relaxed throwing style that defined Sozan's work. It possesses a mysterious charm, as if it gently pulls itself into the palm of your hand and draws you in, perhaps a result of the exquisite sense of unity achieved through the master's technique. The quality of the clay and the firing are both superb; the soft, almost melting, brown earthy surface is subtly accented by a touch of exquisite *hidasuki* (fire-cord) markings—a signature touch characteristic of Sozan.
With signature box by Yuho (shihō-san construction)
Diameter 15.6cm × Diameter 15.3cm × Height 6.7cm Sozan Kaneshige (1909–1995) was the younger brother of Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige, and worked alongside him until around 1951. He was considered a leading figure in tea ceramics, known for his Momoyama-style *hidasuki* works. In 1964, he established the Maruyama Kiln in the eastern suburbs of Okayama City, and in 1966, his announcement of Momoyama-style *hidasuki* fired in an electric kiln created a great sensation. He moved to Inbe in 1982 to build the Ushigami-shita Kiln and was designated a Prefectural Important Intangible Cultural Property holder in 1983. He received the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award, the Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette. He passed away in 1995.