Inbe Syuhai

This is an earlier work of an Ibe sake cup by Iwao Kaneshige, who was born and raised in the prestigious Kaneshige family and has been diligently honing his craft at the kiln where his great predecessors, Toyo Kaneshige and Michiaki Kaneshige, fired their works for generations. The biography states "Shin-myo, Uzuki," indicating it was fired in April 2011. This is a rare Bizen-style piece from Iwao, who has focused more on glazed pottery in recent years. Rather than intentionally aiming for kiln-altered effects, this piece relies solely on the minute traces of ash that adhere during the firing process. Its singular and greatest feature is the taste of the fired clay itself, as if to declare that pottery is defined by the firing of earth. The color shifts from a slightly lustrous shiso-red to a matte brown clay texture, creating the illusion that its raw flavor is that of freshly excavated clay. (Although an earlier work, it is unused.) Original wooden box (four-way tenon joint)
Diameter 7.1cm × Diameter 6.4cm × Height 4.0cm Iwao Kaneshige is the eldest son of Michiaki Kaneshige. Born and raised in a family of Bizen ware artists, he chose to pursue the path of pottery because of his own love for the craft. After honing his skills under the guidance of the Kaneshige family, he became independent in 1995 and held his first solo exhibition at a gallery in Okayama. He participated in the Kaneshige Family Exhibitions in 1999 and 2001.