Ibe Shuten

This Bizen sake cup is the work of Kosuke Yashiro, an artist who spent his apprenticeship years dreaming of working with Bizen ware in Imbe, and who finally debuted after realizing his long-held dream of building his own kiln there. It is a straightforward piece of Bizen ware that truly reflects Yashiro-sensei’s dedication to a lifelong career in Bizen ceramics, inspired by the works of the many potters who were born, raised, and ultimately laid to rest in the soil of Imbe. In keeping with his style of intense firing, this piece features well-melted "goma" (ash glaze) in a unique hue that shifts between yellow-green and gold. The intensity of the firing has also transformed the quality of the clay, creating a deep, lustrous shiso-red color with a texture that looks as if it were perpetually wet. The interior, too, boasts a deep, evocative character, with golden ash glaze layered over a base of black ash. Signed wooden box (double-braced)
Diameter 6.6cm x Diameter 6.3cm x Height 5.8cm Kosuke Yashiro was born in Sapporo, Hokkaido, in 1979. Around 2000, he began training under various kilns and masters in Imbe, Bizen City. He built his own kiln and established his independence in Imbe in September 2016.