Ibe Cup

This Ibe cup is the work of Iwao Kaneshige, who was born and raised in the prestigious Kaneshige family and has been steadily honing his craft at the kiln where his predecessors, the great Toyo Kaneshige and Michiaki Kaneshige, fired their pottery. Without intentionally contriving kiln effects, this piece relies solely on the minute amount of ash that adheres during the firing process. Its unique, Nanban-style unglazed clay texture features a light, refreshing finish with a pale orange hue. The work is focused purely on the act of firing clay, simply expressing both the vitality and the inorganic quality inherent in the material. Signed wooden box (double-slat lid)
Diameter 6.7cm × Diameter 6.5cm × Height 4.2cm Iwao Kaneshige is the eldest son of Michiaki Kaneshige. Born and raised in a family of Bizen ware artists, he chose to pursue pottery because of his own love for ceramics. After refining his skills under the guidance of the Kaneshige family, he became independent in 1995 and held his first solo exhibition at a gallery in Okayama. He participated in the Kaneshige Family Exhibitions in 1999 and 2001.