Bizen Guinomi

Junpei Kaneshige is the eldest son of Kosuke Kaneshige, a leading figure of the Kaneshige family. This is a Bizen Guinomi by the artist.

Following the traditional clay preparation methods of the Kaneshige family, Kaneshige created this work entirely by hand, without using a mechanical clay kneader at any stage of the process.

The clay, carefully prepared with great patience and dedication, retains its rich coloring even under the intense firing conditions that produce powerful kiln transformations. The resulting clay surface possesses a remarkably refined and elegant character, demonstrating the exceptional quality of Kaneshige’s craftsmanship.

While Kase-Goma typically develops a greenish tone, this piece displays an unusual coloration with hints of pale blue. This mysterious appearance reveals once again the remarkable depth and complexity of Bizen ware fired in a climbing kiln.

Soft scarlet Nuke areas appear on both the front and reverse of the Guinomi, creating beautiful accents against the pale blue Kase-Goma.

This Guinomi allows one to fully appreciate two of the greatest pleasures of Bizen sake ware: the subtle changes that develop through use and the joy of gradually nurturing the vessel’s character over time.