Kohiki sake cup

This is a Kohiki sake cup by the renowned master Sozan Kaneshige, celebrated as an "uncrowned king." It is a Kohiki sake cup created as a memento for his 88th birthday. The large, bold form is well-suited to the cool-toned Kohiki glaze, where the interplay of shading and crackling within the pure white surface creates a profound landscape. The gradients produced by the poured glaze evoke the image of clouds, appearing light yet substantial, with the tactile feel and weight in the palm lending it a magnificent presence. Original signed wooden box (nifusaji)
Diameter 8.8cm × Diameter 8.7cm × Height 4.7cm Sozan Kaneshige (1909–1995) was the younger brother of Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige, with whom he collaborated until around 1951. A master of the Momoyama-style hidaski (fire-cord) technique, he was regarded as a leading authority on tea ceramics. In 1964, he built the Maruyama Kiln in the eastern suburbs of Okayama City, and in 1966, he garnered widespread acclaim for his Momoyama-style hidaski works fired in an electric kiln. In 1982, he moved to Imbe to build the Ushigami-shita Kiln, and in 1983, he was designated as a Prefectural Important Intangible Cultural Property holder. He received numerous honors, including the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award, the Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, and the Order of the Rising Sun, Fourth Class.