Black Bizen Sake Cup

This is a new black Bizen sake cup by Takashi Baba, an artist born in Imbe who has loved Bizen ware since childhood and finds his life's joy in creating pieces and firing kilns. This work is crafted by applying a uniquely formulated black slip and fired to the absolute limit, resulting in a finish that can truly be described as a kiln transformation of a black piece. Because it has been fired to the extreme, the black surface has achieved a depth, luster, and brilliance reminiscent of a gunmetal finish. The foot and the areas where the sesame glaze drips on the front feature a subtle bluish tint caused by the black kiln transformation, making them a true highlight of the piece.

"Takashi Baba Special Feature" Diameter 8.0cm × 7.8cm × Height 5.9cm Takashi Baba was born in 1983 as the eldest son of Bizen ware artist Shosuke Baba. Thinking from a young age that he would become a potter, he chose to study sculpture in university to broaden his perspective on ceramics. He graduated from the Sculpture Department of Tokyo University of the Arts in 2006 and further honed his skills at the Kyoto Municipal Institute of Industrial Technology and Culture. He became independent in 2007 and held his first solo exhibition. He is currently active primarily through solo exhibitions at department stores.