Bizen Guinomi

A new Bizen sake cup by Jumpei Kaneshige, the eldest son of Kosuke Kaneshige, the leading figure of the Kaneshige family. This piece is crafted using clay that adheres to the Kaneshige family's traditional methods, refined entirely by hand without the use of a pug mill, and aged for several decades before use. This meticulously prepared clay retains an elegant color even amidst the intense firing that creates *yohen* (kiln-transmutation) effects, while the faintly yellowish *nuke* (uncovered areas) provides that rustic, calming aesthetic typical of Bizen ware. Conversely, the *yohen* areas have been fired with great intensity, demonstrating a deep trust in the clay; the blue-silver, ash-covered glaze is truly captivating, no matter how long one gazes at it. The design of this piece falls perfectly between a standard sake cup and a wide, shallow *hirahai* cup, allowing the aroma of the sake to gently expand while the blue-silver interior beautifully reflects the color of the sake. Signed wooden box to follow
Diameter 7.1cm × Diameter 6.9cm × Height 4.0cm Jumpei Kaneshige was born in Komaba, Tokyo, in 1972 as the eldest son of Kosuke Kaneshige. He graduated from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Waseda University in 1994. In 2000, he completed his graduate studies in sculpture at Long Island University in New York, USA, and upon returning to Japan, he studied under his father, Kosuke Kaneshige.