Bizen Yunomi

This Bizen yunomi (teacup) is an earlier work by Iwao Kaneshige, an artist who was born and raised in the prestigious Kaneshige family and has been diligently honing his craft at the kiln where his legendary predecessors, Toyo Kaneshige and Michiaki Kaneshige, fired their works for generations. In recent years, Iwao-sensei has frequently presented works featuring glazes, making this a rare piece in the Bizen style. The texture of the clay is reminiscent of his father, Michiaki-sensei; the shiso-colored (perilla-leaf) surface, created using high-quality clay, radiates a rich, viscous luster that truly speaks for itself. The rim is lightly and perfectly accented with yellow sesame-seed ash (goma), creating a magnificent contrast with the deeper purple shiso tones surrounding it. The meticulous craftsmanship, which conveys the artist's modest and sincere character, is one of the charms of Iwao-sensei's work. (Although this is an earlier work, it is unused.) Signed wooden box (tomobako) with two-way crossbar
Diameter 8.1cm x Diameter 8.0cm x Height 6.7cm Iwao Kaneshige is the eldest son of Michiaki Kaneshige. Born and raised in a family of Bizen ware artists, his natural love for ceramics led him to pursue the path of a potter. After refining his techniques 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.