Bizen Guinomi

This is a new Bizen sake cup by Junpei Kaneshige, the eldest son of Kosuke Kaneshige, the leading figure of the Kaneshige lineage. Staying true to the Kaneshige tradition of clay preparation, this piece is crafted from clay refined entirely by hand without the use of a pug mill, and aged for several decades before use. It features the signature yellow sesame glaze (ki-goma) for which the Kaneshige family is renowned; the rich, heavy coating of glaze reveals traces of scorch marks in places, while the surface of the clay takes on a deep, chocolate-like hue. The artist has further evolved his previous design—which featured a single line on the front—by incorporating a "yabure" (tear) technique, resulting in a bold form that contrasts with the understated firing. The sesame glaze around the rim has melted beautifully, enhancing not only the visual landscape but also the tactile sensation against the lips. Signed wooden box (shiho-san) included
Diameter 7.0cm x Diameter 6.3cm x Height 5.4cm Junpei 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, and upon returning to Japan, he studied under his father, Kosuke Kaneshige.