Bizen Yunomi

This is a brand new Bizen ware teacup, freshly out of the kiln by Kosuke Kaneshige, the leader of the Kaneshige school and son of the legendary restorer of Bizen ware and Living National Treasure, the late Toyo Kaneshige. It features the distinctive "dojime" (waisted) design that instantly identifies it as a work by Kosuke, which gives the overall form a refined tension while also making it comfortable to hold. This luxurious teacup is fired to the level of a fine tea bowl, showcasing a rich landscape with a thick, glass-like coating of yellow "goma" (sesame ash glaze). The clay body is equally well-fired, revealing a deep, chocolate-toned surface. The intense firing has essentially coated the entire piece, resulting in a smooth texture that makes it a pleasure to use. Signed wooden box (double-slat lid)
7.1 cm diameter × 7.1 cm diameter × 9.7 cm height Kosuke Kaneshige is the third son of Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige. He graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts with a degree in sculpture in 1968, and completed his graduate studies in the same department in 1970. He began exhibiting his ceramic works in 1975, and after serving as a lecturer in the School of Letters and Science at Tokai University, he returned to his hometown in 1977. He built his own climbing kiln in 1982. He produces sculptural objects, tea utensils, flower vases, tableware, and sake vessels. In 1991, he created the ceramic mural "Light and Wind" for the Yasuda Fire and Marine Insurance building in Okayama. He received the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 1994. In 1997, he exhibited at the Bizen Ware Paris Exhibition, and he has held solo exhibitions in cities across Japan, including Tokyo and Osaka. In 2012, he was designated as an Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Cultural Property holder.