{"product_id":"p5876","title":"Bizen ware monkfish-shaped tea caddy","description":"This is a Bizen ware *ankō* (monkfish-shaped) tea caddy by the late, great Toyo Kaneshige, the first Living National Treasure and the restorer of Bizen ware.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nJudging by the maker's mark, this piece dates to the very end of Toyo Kaneshige’s life, likely created between the late 1950s and the 1960s.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nWith its wide mouth reminiscent of a classic *karamono* *taikai* tea caddy, its powerful form gives it an exceptional presence that commands your attention.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe firing displays the quintessential *goma* (sesame) glaze of the Kaneshige family. It features superb yellow and scorched sesame markings, the result of a patient firing in the heat of the kiln, and offers an exquisite *tsuchiaji* (clay quality) that remains complex and profound despite its solid, hard-fired texture.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe body transitions from a hard-fired *shiso* (beefsteak plant) color at the rim to a caramel-like gradient toward the base, with differing hues inside and out—a piece one could admire in their palm forever.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn this work, which retains traces of intense flames despite its withered, rustic appearance, the refreshing green of matcha will provide an irresistible contrast.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIt is a magnificent masterpiece in which Toyo Kaneshige’s signature form, firing, and clay quality are in perfect harmony.\n\nWith box signed by Kosuke (shiho-san box)\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 9.3cm x 9.3cm, Height 7.6cm (including lid)\n\nToyo Kaneshige (1896–1967, born in Imbe, Bizen City) was the eldest son of the potter Baiyo Kaneshige, from a branch of the Kaneshige family, one of the six traditional Bizen pottery lineages.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe began his craft under his father and rose to fame with his handmade *hōhin* (teapots).\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFrom the Taisho period through the early Showa period, he conducted extensive research into kiln loading, firing methods, and traditional clay preparation, succeeding in recreating the Momoyama-style Bizen *tsuchiaji* in 1930. Starting around 1932, he began using the potter's wheel and dedicated his efforts to creating tea ceramics.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe deepened his friendships with Handeishi Kawakita, Toyozo Arakawa, and Kyusetsu Miwa, and after the war, he expanded his artistic scope under the influence of figures such as Rosanjin Kitaoji and Isamu Noguchi.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHaving breathed new life into Bizen ware, which had declined from the Edo to the Meiji period, he is known as the \"restorer of Bizen ware.\"\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1954, he was recognized as an Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Cultural Property holder, and in 1956, he became the first person to be designated a national Living National Treasure for Bizen ware.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1964 and 1966, he was invited to serve as a summer lecturer at the University of Hawaii.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1967, he performed a pottery demonstration for the Emperor and Empress during their visit to Bizen.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe passed away in 1967.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nMajor awards and honors include the Chugoku Culture Award, the Sanyo Shimbun Award, the Okayama Prefecture Culture Award, the Medal with Purple Ribbon, and the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette.","brand":"金重陶陽","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618014875745,"sku":"5876","price":350000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/5876.jpg?v=1790231126","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p5876","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}