Artwork Overview

Partial green glaze sweeps across this Iga cup by Atarashi Manabu, revealing passages of orange and reddish-brown clay. Broad carved planes and projecting edges give the body a compact, sculptural presence. Small white inclusions punctuate the surface, while subtle golden highlights bring warmth to the exposed earth.

Artist Context

Atarashi Manabu’s practice is rooted in Iga ceramics. Here, the character of Iga clay remains central to the work: its granular texture is visible alongside the glazed passages, while the kurinuki carving gives the vessel an irregular outline and pronounced changes of plane. Material and shaping are read together.

Artistic Interpretation

The green glaze suggests moss spreading over weathered rock, with warm clay emerging between its edges. This is our reading of the surface. Diagonal ridges guide the eye around the cup, and scattered pale inclusions interrupt the darker passages. The quieter, warm-toned interior offers a resting point within the more eventful exterior.

Curator’s Selection

We selected this work for the balance between assertive carving and nuanced colour. The green glaze leaves enough clay exposed for the orange, rust-red and golden tones to remain distinct. White inclusions add small points of contrast. These elements work together without obscuring the cup’s underlying form.

Collector Perspective

This cup rewards being viewed from several directions. One face emphasises green glaze; another brings exposed clay and a strong diagonal edge forward. The irregular rim and recessed foot extend that sequence above and below. For a collector drawn to Iga’s material character, its appeal lies in the relationship between surface, silhouette and the individual carved form.