Inbe Chawan

This Ibe tea bowl was created by Kisei Kibata, who made his long-awaited debut after nine years of training as an apprentice to Jun Isezaki. The work was formed by beating clay spheres together to leave wrinkles before merging them into a single ball, then carving out the foot and shaving away the outer perimeter to hollow it out. Its intensely impactful form and matte black surface, which seems to absorb light, give it the appearance of having been carved from a giant piece of charcoal. On areas where no slip was applied, the combination of "goma" (ash glaze) and metallic gold tones creates an effect like scorched metal, looking as if the charred surface had been polished and cared for. Contrasting with its active, sculptural form, the carving of the foot is remarkably meticulous and orderly, creating a pleasant sense of imbalance. Signed wooden box (double-braced lid)
Diameter 12.3cm × Diameter 11.8cm × Height 10.1cm Kisei Kibata was born in Imbe, Bizen City, in 1974. In 2002, he began his apprenticeship under Bizen ware artist Jun Isezaki. In 2012, he built his own kiln and became independent in Shimizu, Wake Town. That same year, he received the Tanabe Museum of Art Grand Prize and the Encouragement Award at the Exhibition of Ceramics for Tea.