Bizen Yohen Sake Cup

This is a Bizen yohen sake cup by Takashi Baba, an artist born in Imbe who has loved Bizen ware since childhood and finds joy in life through creating works and firing kilns. This piece was fired twice to achieve an excellent result, featuring a striking, unique appearance with a natural, greenish glaze reminiscent of Iga ware that has heavily accumulated on the surface. Matching the bold, greenish natural glaze are black kiln-transformed markings caused by iron content, while the clay itself has taken on a metallic, copper-like hue, showcasing a different expression of Bizen ware brought about by intense firing. The bold, footed form, characteristic of Mr. Baba’s style, suits the intense firing perfectly. (Please note that there is a scar on the bottom of the foot from being removed from the kiln base.) Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
Diameter 6.1cm × Diameter 6.0cm × Height 6.8cm 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 the scope of his pottery. In 2006, he graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts with a degree in sculpture and went on to hone 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 active primarily through solo exhibitions at department stores.