Ibe Shuten

This is a newly fired Ibe sake cup by Yuho Kaneshige, an artist who, despite his background in the prestigious Kaneshige lineage, constantly questions himself and creates works as a potter named Yuho rather than as a member of the Kaneshige family. This piece is part of a series he has been working on for three to four years that leans towards a plain aesthetic, crafted from high-quality clay fired carefully in a climbing kiln inside a sagger. This particular piece features a magnificent scarlet hue; it is a warm, rustic Bizen-yaki color that is not overly showy and is incredibly soothing to look at. As Mr. Yuho remarked, "I am using the finest rice-paddy clay," one is immediately struck by the fine texture upon the first touch, and by the second, one is already captivated by the piece. The understated nature of the clay perfectly complements the aforementioned bold scarlet, resulting in an exceptional sake cup that you will never tire of using every day. Signed wooden box (shiho-san) included
Diameter: 6.5cm × 6.1cm × Height: 4.7cm 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. In 1980, he became independent 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 tea bowls, which he particularly enjoys making, he emphasizes the interior structure (mikomi) while pursuing balance on the exterior. He has received the Sanyo Shimbun Award at the Prefectural Exhibition, the Encouragement Award at the Exhibition of Tea Ceremony Ceramics, and the Encouragement Award at the Tanko Biennale. In 2003, he was honored with the Japan Ceramic Society Award. He is also dedicated to his solo exhibitions, which are held in various locations.