Ibe Shuten

This is a newly kiln-fired Ibe sake cup by Yuho Kaneshige, an artist who, while a member of the Kaneshige lineage, constantly questions himself, creating works not merely as Yuho Kaneshige, but as the individual potter, Yuho. Having given much thought to working with the traditional *haikaburi* (ash-covered) kiln transformation within the Kaneshige school, this piece is the result of long and careful deliberation by Kaneshige-sensei. True to the master, who treats clay with a reverence bordering on religious, the quality of the clay itself goes without saying, and the base scarlet hue is of the finest quality, appearing truly melt-in-the-mouth. While the firing is as perfect as one could ask for, the piece retains the soft texture that satisfies the "sense of touch" that Kaneshige-sensei holds in such high regard. It is a work packed with the joy of pottery: enjoy the magnificent firing with your eyes, admire the changes in its hue as you pour sake into it, and take pleasure in the tactile experience of using it as a vessel, watching it "mature" over time. Original signed box (shiho-san style)
Diameter 7.1cm × 7.0cm × Height 4.8cm Yuho Kaneshige was born as the third son of the Intangible Cultural Property holder, Sozan Kaneshige. He began studying pottery techniques under his father in 1975. He became independent in 1980 and held his first solo exhibition in Okayama. He creates tableware with a focus on tea ceramics such as tea bowls, water jars, and flower vases. For his beloved tea bowls in particular, he emphasizes the interior modeling (*mikomi*) while pursuing balance in the exterior. He has received the Sanyo Shimbun Award at the Prefectural Art Exhibition, the Encouragement Award at the Exhibition of Tea Ceremony Forms, and the Tanko Biennale Encouragement Award. He received the Japan Ceramic Society Award in 2003. He is also dedicated to solo exhibitions, which are held in various locations.