Ibe Tokkuri

This is an Ibe sake bottle by Iwao Kaneshige, an artist who was born and raised in the prestigious Kaneshige family and who continues to work diligently at the kiln that produced generations of masterworks by the great Toyo Kaneshige and Michiaki Kaneshige. This sake bottle could be described as pottery in its rawest form, with the texture of the clay fully exposed. The Bizen clay that Iwao is so enamored with features a gradation of deep shiso-purple and vibrant scarlet; by eschewing intentional ash glazes and relying solely on the inherent character of the clay, he has created a piece that is both delicate and bold. The concept of relying on the raw quality of the clay conveys the virtues of Bizen ware in a simple and direct manner. It has a pleasing weight in the hand, and combined with the variations in the scarlet clay, it promises to be a pleasure to use. Signed wooden box (double-crosspiece)
Rim 3.8cm × Body 8.7cm × Body 8.6cm × Height 12.0cm Capacity approx. 290cc Iwao Kaneshige is the eldest son of Michiaki Kaneshige. Born and raised into a family of Bizen ware artists, he developed a love for ceramics from an early age and chose to pursue a career in pottery. He honed his craft under the guidance of the Kaneshige family, went independent in 1995, and held his first solo exhibition at a gallery in Okayama. He has exhibited in Kaneshige family exhibitions in 1999 and 2001.