Bizen sake bottle

This is an Ibe sake bottle by Sozan Kaneshige, a master potter loved by many, who began his career as an assistant to his elder brother, the "genius potter" Toyo Kaneshige. Although Sozan-sensei began creating Bizen ware in earnest at the Maruyama Kiln around the age of fifty, this work dates back to his earliest period, fired either at the very beginning of the Maruyama Kiln or in Toyo-sensei's kiln before the Maruyama Kiln was built. It features a simple composition of "goma" (ash glaze), "tsuchiaji" (texture/color of the clay), and "hidasuki" (fire-cord patterns)—the absolute fundamentals of Bizen ware—yet the notable aspect is the extraordinarily high quality of each individual basic kiln-altered feature. It is no exaggeration to say that the texture of the clay is a masterpiece among masterpieces, boasting an outstanding hue achieved through the use of top-grade clay that is rarely seen today. Based on a soft, bright caramel-brown clay texture characteristic of Kannon clay, the surface is a magnificent blend of luscious, melting shiso-purple tones and rich, amber-colored hues. This clay texture shifts in appearance when wet; when the entire bottle is thoroughly dampened, the latent shiso-purple becomes more prominent, creating a truly alluring color combination with the hidasuki pattern that is a delight to behold. (*Note: Please be aware that the bottle is slightly unstable due to the shape of its base.)

View Yuho Kaneshige's blog post Signed wooden box (shiho-san style)
Rim 3.7cm x Body diameter 8.8cm x Body diameter 8.5cm x Height 14.7cm, Capacity approx. 350cc Sozan Kaneshige (1909–1995) was the younger brother of Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige and worked alongside him until around 1951. He excelled at Momoyama-style hidasuki and was known as a leading figure in tea ceramics. In 1964, he built the Maruyama Kiln in the eastern suburbs of Okayama City, and in 1966, he garnered great attention for announcing Momoyama-style hidasuki fired in an electric kiln. In 1982, he moved to Ibe and built the Ushigami-shita Kiln, and in 1983, he was designated as a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property by Okayama Prefecture. He received the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Award, the Okayama Prefectural Cultural Award, and the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Fourth Class. He passed away in 1995.