{"product_id":"p7796","title":"Bizen sake cup","description":"This is a Bizen sake cup by the legendary Toyo Kaneshige, a Living National Treasure and the great restorer of Bizen ware.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nGiven that the potter's mark \"To\" is relatively short, this piece is believed to have been created in his later years during the 1950s.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIt is no exaggeration to say that Toyo-sensei did not merely craft Bizen ware, but started by redefining it entirely. Considering the circumstances of that time as recounted by his son, Ken, it was surely no easy path.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAcclaimed as a genius for his intricate decorative works, he abandoned the craft into which he had poured his heart and soul. At the age of 30, he chose the arduous road of mastering wheel-thrown pottery to redefine the true essence of Bizen ware and take the future of the region upon his shoulders.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nLooking at his decorative works, the interior carving is adjusted to the millimeter, with every detail meticulously finished. Even in pieces like flower vases and water jars, he crafted them so that even the cross-sections of broken edges would command beauty from the viewer.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAmidst such an intense approach to pottery, his sake cups display a notably gentler expression, packed with a charm and allure that seem to embody a side of Toyo-sensei who was known for his own love of sake.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe clay used is top-grade, refined by his own hands after being excavated at the time. Placed in the middle of the kiln to aim for both ash-covered kiln changes and *kase-goma* (dull sesame-ash glaze) simultaneously, it achieves a *kase* kiln-change—the highest level of Kaneshige Bizen.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe kiln-change and scarlet hues are so magnificent that no further words are needed. Yet, amidst the scarlet that resembles a setting sun, the stone inclusion, shaped like a snaggletooth, is endearing—a touch of chic playfulness that surely crossed the mind of Toyo-san, the drinker from Imbe.\u003cbr\u003e\n\nSigned wooden box (shiho-san, double box)\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 6.2cm x 6.0cm x Height 5.5cm\u003cbr\u003e\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-yaki lineages.\u003cbr\u003e\n\nHe began his craft under his father and gained early fame for his handmade teapots.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFrom the Taisho to early Showa periods, he conducted extensive research into kiln loading, firing methods, and traditional clay preparation, successfully recreating the clay texture of Momoyama-period Bizen in 1930. Around 1932, he began working with the potter's wheel and turned his focus toward creating tea ceramics.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe deepened his friendships with masters such as Handeishi Kawakita, Toyozo Arakawa, and Kyusetsu Miwa, and after the war, was influenced by Rosanjin Kitaoji and Isamu Noguchi, further expanding the scope of his artistry.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe breathed new life into Bizen ware, which had declined from the Edo through the Meiji periods, and is honored as the \"restorer of Bizen ware\" for his contributions.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1954, he was recognized as a holder of an Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Cultural Property, 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 serve as a guest lecturer for the summer program at the University of Hawaii.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIn 1967, he gave a pottery demonstration before 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: Chugoku Cultural Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, Medal with Purple Ribbon, Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, etc.","brand":"金重陶陽","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618209058913,"sku":"7796","price":1650000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/7796.jpg?v=1790233272","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p7796","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}