We have received a horned owl incense container by Toyo Kaneshige.

Hello everyone, how are you doing? Here in Bizen, it has started to feel chilly in the mornings and evenings now that we are in mid-October. The Bizen Pottery Festival will be held on Saturday, October 20th and Sunday, October 21st, so please be sure to stop by our shop when you come to Bizen.   Today, I would like to introduce a rare owl incense container by Kaneshige Toyo that has just arrived. This piece was created around the early Showa period (according to the collection catalog, in 1935), during the transitional phase when he shifted from crafting figurines to wheel-thrown pottery, and it bears the "Tsuchi-no-ten" pottery mark used during that time. Although it is a figurine, it features a charming, stylized design. The owl's round eyes, its somewhat melancholic demeanor, its stout figure, and the indescribable design of its ears and feathers are all truly adorable. The design shares an affinity with the cute types of Bizen figurines that have recently become popular. Having this kind of sensibility in the early Showa period is exactly what one would expect from Toyo, who was known as a genius potter. It has such a lovely design that you’ll want to gaze at it in the palm of your hand forever. Personally, I like viewing it from this angle the best. There is something profoundly melancholic about its back. It is also wonderful how the sangiri (kiln change) marks look just like the coloring of bird feathers. However, when you look closely at the fine details of the work, your impression of it changes completely. Hikaru Shimamura, who could be called a leading figure in contemporary Bizen figurine creation, once said, "Toyo-san's craftsmanship is even more impressive in the parts you cannot see." True to those words, the hidden parts of this figurine show an almost intense level of workmanship; he has brilliantly recreated the sharp talons, the hallmark of a raptor, using soft Bizen clay. If you touch this piece, you can feel the sharp texture of the talons meant to tear into prey. Furthermore, the finishing on the inside is excellent; the clay has been carefully scraped out using a very fine spatula. There are no leftover clay shavings or unnatural distortions inside, and it is finished beautifully. I am deeply moved that he maintained this level of craft even during the early Showa period, a time of hardship for Bizen ware. Perhaps this meticulous work on the inside is what truly defines fine craftsmanship. I cannot help but feel respect for the iron-clad will of Toyo, who never compromised his beliefs and was able to thoroughly commit to his work and his calling, no matter how difficult his circumstances or the era itself may have been. Beyond just the scraped-out interior, the joints are also finished very smoothly and beautifully. (Kaneshige Toyo / Bizen Owl Incense Container, Box inscribed by Domyo) size: Width 5.2cm × Depth 6.7cm × Height 6.3cm　price: Sold For detailed images or other inquiries, please contact us below.   Tel 0869-67-2210　Fax 0869-67-2220 Email to Kawaguchi Tourakuen (Click to open email screen) To Kawaguchi Tourakuen's Website