Bizen-yaki Gold-accented Carved Tea Cup

This is a new Bizen gold-painted carved tea cup by Takashi Baba, an artist born in Imbe who has loved Bizen ware since childhood and finds his life's joy in creating works and firing kilns. This tea cup is part of the gold-painted series he took on for this firing, with *hidasuki* (fire-cord) markings that shine like metal adorning the surface of the vessel. The piece features eye-catching, ambitious craftsmanship characteristic of Mr. Baba, including fine carvings made with a spatula to enhance the brilliance of the gold, and a tripod-style cut foot. Although it is a tea cup, its nearly spherical shape makes it well-suited for use as a *shochu* cup or a café au lait bowl. Paper box
Diameter 9.9cm × 9.8cm × Height 8.4cm Takashi Baba was born in 1983 as the eldest son of Bizen ware artist Shosuke Baba. Since he was a child, he envisioned becoming a ceramic artist, and chose to study sculpture in university to broaden the scope of his pottery. In 2006, he graduated from the Sculpture Department of Tokyo University of the Arts and then honed his skills at the Kyoto Municipal Institute of Industrial Technology and Culture. He became independent in 2007 and held his first solo exhibition. Currently, he is actively showcasing his work, primarily through solo exhibitions at department stores.