Ibe Cup

This Ibe sake cup is by Iwao Kaneshige, who was born and raised into the prestigious Kaneshige family and has been diligently refining his craft at the kiln where his predecessors, the great Toyo Kaneshige and Michiaki Kaneshige, fired their works. Rather than intentionally pursuing kiln changes, this piece relies solely on the minute amount of ash that adheres during the firing process. The clay texture, with its slightly sweet, near-orange finish, creates a gradient into a faint, shimmering shiso-red, evoking the infinite possibilities of the earth. The small, taut foot reveals the artist’s sincere approach to his work. Signed wooden box (double-slat lid)
Diameter 6.3cm × Diameter 6.0cm × Height 4.5cm Iwao Kaneshige is the eldest son of Michiaki Kaneshige. Born and raised in a family of Bizen pottery artists, his love for ceramics led him to pursue the path of a potter. He honed his skills under the guidance of the Kaneshige family, went 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.