Bizen Gold-Splashed Carved Teacup

This is a new Bizen gold-painted carved teacup by Takashi Baba, an artist born in Inbe who has loved Bizen ware since childhood and finds his life's joy in creating works and firing kilns. This teacup is part of a gold-painted series he challenged himself to create in this recent kiln firing, with a *hidasuki* (fire-cord) pattern that glimmers like metal adorning the surface. The piece features eye-catching, ambitious craftsmanship characteristic of Baba, including fine carvings made with a spatula to accentuate the gold luster, and a *sangiri-wari kodai* (tripod-split) foot. Although designed as a teacup, its nearly spherical shape makes it versatile enough to be used as a shochu cup or a café au lait bowl. Paper box
Diameter 9.4cm x 9.4cm x Height 7.7cm 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 ceramic artist, he chose to study sculpture in university to broaden his artistic scope. After graduating from the Tokyo University of the Arts with a degree in sculpture 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 holding solo exhibitions at department stores.