Inbe Shiribari Kensui

This is an Ibe shiribari kensui (waste water container) by Michiaki Kaneshige, who was born as the eldest son of the master Toyo Kaneshige and captivated everyone with a style that infused original sensibility into tradition. Created with a sincere and unpretentious approach, this magnificent kensui possesses the "harmony" and "dignity" essential to tea ceremony utensils. Michiaki, who was strictly taught by his father Toyo that "the clay is more important than the rice," spent painstaking effort preparing the clay, which transcends the limits of unglazed stoneware to form a superb surface texture containing infinite colors. The clay body is so beautiful that at times even the natural ash glaze (goma) seems to get in the way; yet, even here, Michiaki’s sense of "harmony" and "dignity" incorporates the goma into the beautiful surface as delicate shading. The hidasuki (fire cord) pattern on the base, which is usually hidden, is also incredibly beautiful, and there is an indescribable charm in the fact that it can only be admired when the piece is not in use. Signed wooden box (shihozan)
Diameter 16.4cm × Diameter 16.4cm × Height 9.1cm Michiaki Kaneshige (1934–1995) was born in Ibe as the eldest son of Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige. He graduated from the Craft Department of Kanazawa College of Art in 1955 and became a ceramic artist under the tutelage of his father, Toyo. From 1957, he was selected for the Asahi Modern Ceramics Exhibition three consecutive times. He was also selected for the Nitten Exhibition, and in 1960, he visited various parts of the United States to observe ceramic art. In 1969, he became a full member of the Japan Kōgei Association, and in 1970, he received the Toyo Kaneshige Award. In 1973, he was appointed as a member of the Issuikai Ceramic Art Department, in 1980 he received the Japan Ceramic Society Award, and in 1990, he was officially designated as a holder of an Okayama Prefecture Important Intangible Cultural Property. He specialized in tea ceramics but also created geometrically shaped bowls and other works. He also exhibited his work in exhibitions overseas.