Bizen sake bottle

This Bizen sake bottle is the work of Takashi Baba, who was born in Imbe, has loved Bizen ware since childhood, and finds his life's joy in creating pieces and firing kilns. The highly sophisticated design—which cannot be described by the word "deformed" alone—is masterful, appearing as if a cylindrical sake bottle had been sliced with a laser scalpel, causing half of its body to vanish. When held, it is lighter than one might imagine, and it is clear that usability has been carefully considered, such as the indentation that makes it easy to rest your fingers. While it features the earthy texture and *goma* (ash glaze) characteristic of Bizen ware, the piece also brings to mind a hip flask, reflecting how tradition and innovation are brilliantly fused within Mr. Baba's work, elevating it into a singular form of art. Signed wooden box (double-crosspiece)
Rim 3.5cm × Body diameter 10.6cm × Body diameter 8.5cm × Height 16.3cm, Capacity approx. 370cc Takashi Baba was born in 1983 as the eldest son of Bizen ceramic 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 Tokyo University of the Arts with a degree in sculpture in 2006 and 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.