{"product_id":"p6285","title":"Bizen sake cup","description":"This is a Bizen sake cup by the great Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige, the pioneer who sparked the revival of Bizen ware.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe potter's mark features a variation of the character \"to\" (陶) with the right side written as 土丶, indicating this piece dates from the period when he was gradually transitioning from creating sculpted works to thrown pottery.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAs it was created during this transitional phase, one can discern the essence of his sculptural work in its thinner form and simple foot shaving, which contrast with his later-period pieces.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe clay used is a paddy clay (ta-tsuchi) suitable for wheel-throwing, showcasing a delightful variety of colors and textures for a sake vessel, including subtle flashes of scarlet, brownish-shiso, and orange tones.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFurthermore, the cup features a unique, crusty \"kase-goma\" ash glaze reminiscent of tree bark, which develops a slightly weathered texture with care, offering an exquisite, aged aesthetic that pleases both the eye and the lips.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe body is incised with a lattice pattern (higaki-mon) characteristic of this period, evoking images of Toyo Kaneshige struggling in his search for new forms of expression in Bizen ware.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIncludes a photograph of the piece with an appraisal by Kosuke Kaneshige.\n\nOriginal wooden box (Shiho-san construction, double-boxed, appraised)\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 6.8cm x 6.5cm, Height 5.2cm\n\nToyo Kaneshige (1896–1967, born in Inbe, Bizen City) was the eldest son of the kiln master 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 pottery career under his father's tutelage, initially gaining fame for his handmade \"hohin\" teapots.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFrom the Taisho era through the early Showa era, he conducted extensive research into kiln-loading, firing methods, and traditional clay preparation, ultimately succeeding in recreating the clay textures of Momoyama-period Bizen ware in 1930. Starting around 1932, he began working with the potter's wheel and focused his efforts on creating tea ceremony ceramics.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe deepened his friendships with Handeishi Kawakita, Toyozo Arakawa, and Kyusetsu Miwa, and after the war, he was influenced by figures such as Rosanjin Kitaoji and Isamu Noguchi, further expanding his artistic range.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHaving breathed new life into Bizen ware, which had been in decline since the Edo and Meiji periods, he is known as the \"Father of the Bizen Ware Revival.\"\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1954, he was recognized as a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Okayama Prefecture, and in 1956, he became the first person to be designated a Living National Treasure for Bizen ware.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1964 and 1966, he was invited to teach as a summer lecturer at the University of Hawaii.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1967, he performed a pottery demonstration for Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun 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 Cultural Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, 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":46618046333025,"sku":"6285","price":500000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/6285.jpg?v=1790231417","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p6285","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}