Artwork Overview

Charcoal black, iron grey and pale mineral flecks give this Iga kurinuki cup by Atarashi Manabu a meteorite-like presence. Broad angular faces are crossed by branching, fissure-like lines, with reddish-brown tones appearing between them. Orange-ochre clay around the foot brings a concentrated warmth beneath the darker body.

Artist Context

This work brings together Atarashi’s kurinuki carving and hikidashi black technique. The carved planes give the cup a clear architectural structure: a roughly square opening, pronounced changes of angle and a compact foot. The dark finish allows the shaping and granular character of the clay to remain central to the work.

Artistic Interpretation

The surface evokes rock exposed after volcanic ash has been washed away. This is a visual association, suggested by the grey-black planes, pale granular passages and warmer tones emerging through the surface lines. Scattered white inclusions provide points of brightness, while the deeply shaded interior gives the opening a strong sense of depth.

Curator’s Selection

We selected this piece for the coherence of its form and surface. The angular carving supports the geological character of the texture, and the pale inclusions articulate the darker planes without overwhelming them. The exposed orange clay at the foot completes the colour relationship, giving the work both visual weight and warmth.

Collector Perspective

This cup rewards looking beyond the initial impression of black. Turning it reveals shifts between dense charcoal, softer grey and rust-brown, with white inclusions catching the light at different angles. Its distinctive presence rests in these small variations within a strong, compact silhouette—a work to return to and examine slowly.