Bizen ware small bowl

This is a Bizen small bowl by the late master Toyo Kaneshige, the first-generation Living National Treasure and the great restorer of Bizen ware. For this piece, Kaneshige used "Kannon-do" clay, which he favored in his later years, specifically selecting the areas with the least iron content to achieve a fresh, predominantly white aesthetic. The high-quality Kannon-do clay gives the work a clean, refined appearance, while subtle variations in the kiln flame have produced caramel-brown kiln transformations (yohen) across the surface, adding immense depth and character. Perhaps due to the quality of the clay, the "hidasuki" (fire-cord) markings are exceptionally vibrant, with a striking, brilliant crimson pattern decorating the interior. The bowl is slightly larger than a standard small bowl and features a very elegant form; although it has a "goso-zoko" (go-stone base), it would be fascinating to use it as a small tea bowl (kofuku-chawan). Signed wooden box by Kosuke (with sliding lid)
Diameter 12.7cm × Diameter 12.1cm × Height 6.3cm Toyo Kaneshige (1896–1967, born in Ibe, Bizen City) was born the eldest son of Baiyo Kaneshige, from a branch of the Kaneshige family, one of the six traditional Bizen pottery families. He studied under his father and initially gained fame for his handmade teapots (hohin). From the Taisho to early Showa periods, he conducted extensive research and successfully revived the Momoyama-style Bizen clay quality; it was around this time that he began using a potter's wheel and shifted his focus to the creation of tea ceremony ceramics. He deepened his friendships with Handeishi Kawakita, Toyozo Arakawa, and Kyusetsu Miwa, and after the war, he expanded his artistic range under the influence of Rosanjin Kitaoji and Isamu Noguchi. For these achievements, he is known as the restorer of Bizen ware. He was the first Bizen potter to be designated a holder of an Important Intangible Cultural Property, and in 1964 and 1966, he was invited as a visiting lecturer to the University of Hawaii summer session. In 1967, he performed a pottery demonstration for Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun during their visit to Bizen.
Major awards: Chugoku Culture Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Okayama Prefecture Culture Award, Medal with Purple Ribbon, Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Rosette.