Ibe Beer Mug

This is a new Bizen beer cup by Mashiro Aiga, an artist known for creating works that are unwaveringly straightforward and possess real grit. Although it is an "Ibe-te" piece created by applying iron-rich clay, the primary focus is on highlighting the delicate natural gradations of the clay, resulting in a variety of hues layered over a chocolate-like earthy base. It is fired so remarkably well that one would hardly think it a mere beer cup; the exquisite "tamadare" (beaded glaze) formations on both the exterior and the interior base make it truly magnificent. While it is thick-walled and has a slight heft, it possesses a solid presence in the hand, making for a robust work that is quintessentially Aiga. Original signed wooden box (shiho-zan) included.
Diameter 7.9cm x Diameter 7.9cm x Height 10.6cm Mashiro Aiga graduated from the Okayama Prefectural Bizen Pottery Center in 1997. In 2003, he built a fully subterranean anagama kiln in Sabu. The following year, in 2004, he built his second kiln, a semi-subterranean anagama, and continues to devote himself to his craft.