Ibe Shuten

This Ibe-hai (sake cup) is the work of Iwao Kaneshige, who was born and raised into the prestigious Kaneshige family, and who has been diligently refining his craft at the kiln where his predecessors, the great Toyo Kaneshige and Michiaki Kaneshige, fired their works. Rather than intentionally aiming for kiln-altered effects, this piece relies solely on the minute amount of ash that adheres during the firing process. Its singular and greatest characteristic is the authentic flavor of fired clay, as if the work is asserting that pottery is, after all, simply the art of firing earth. The color transitions from a slightly lustrous shiso-purple to a matte brown earthy tone, creating an illusion that its raw, unspoiled texture is that of freshly dug clay. Signed wooden box (with two-way struts)
Diameter 7.7cm × Diameter 7.7cm × Height 4.2cm Iwao Kaneshige is the eldest son of Michiaki Kaneshige. Born and raised in a family of Bizen ware artists, he pursued the path of pottery because of his own deep passion for the craft. After honing 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.