Bizen white sake cup

This is a white Bizen sake cup by Takashi Baba, who was born in Imbe, has loved Bizen ware since childhood, and finds his life's joy in creating works and firing kilns. By blending porcelain clay into Bizen clay, this piece possesses both the refreshing surface of porcelain and the sensitive reaction to flame characteristic of Bizen ware. Beyond the contrast between glossy and matte surfaces over the white base, the piece is full of visual highlights that belie its simple first impression, such as ash glaze that resembles spray painting when applied over the white background, and gradations ranging from pink to pale orange created by sensitive reactions to temperature changes. Incorporating the sleek form of porcelain, the design is a hybrid of Bizen and porcelain styles. Despite being Bizen, it is a cool, refreshing vessel perfect for summer. Signed wooden box (Nihon-san style)
Diameter 7.0cm × Diameter 7.0cm × Height 6.4cm Takashi Baba was born in 1983 as the eldest son of Bizen ware artist Shosuke Baba. Considering becoming a ceramic artist from an early age, he chose to study sculpture in university to broaden his artistic scope. After graduating from the Department of Sculpture at Tokyo University of the Arts in 2006, he 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.