{"product_id":"p6215","title":"Bizen Yohen Blue Sake Cup","description":"This is a newly kiln-fired Bizen \"Yohen-Ao\" (transmuted blue) sake 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.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThis is his latest work, just removed from the kiln in April 2021.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nIt is part of his \"Yohen-Ao\" series, an evolution of the black Bizen technique using slip (nuri-tsuchi) that he specializes in, where portions of the black surface have transmuted into a vivid cobalt blue.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nFurthermore, this piece has undergone multiple firings, allowing the \"Yohen-Ao\" to evolve even further, with striking clear green ash glazes and a vibrant indigo blue reminiscent of salt glaze.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe surface has reached a state more like fully vitrified glass than a simple kiln transmutation; in particular, the interior features melted slip that makes it look like black crystal.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThe modern spatula-carved facets are characteristic of Baba, who studied sculpture, and lend the cup a distinctive presence that makes it feel almost like a small vase despite being a vessel for sake.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nConsiderably taller and slimmer than his conventional sake cup designs, this piece stands with a palpable sense of presence, as if testifying to its survival through multiple kiln firings.\n\nSigned wooden box (shiho-san style) included\u003cbr\u003e\nDiameter 5.9cm × 5.9cm × Height 6.5cm\n\nTakashi Baba was born in 1983 as the eldest son of Bizen ceramic artist Shosuke Baba.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nThinking he would become a potter from a young age, he chose to study sculpture in university to broaden the scope of his work.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nAfter 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.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe became independent in 2007 and held his first solo exhibition.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\nHe is currently active, focusing primarily on solo exhibitions at department stores.","brand":"馬場隆志","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46618711031905,"sku":"6215","price":22000.0,"currency_code":"JPY","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0654\/9916\/8865\/files\/6215.jpg?v=1790240958","url":"https:\/\/tourakuen.myshopify.com\/en\/products\/p6215","provider":"川口陶楽苑","version":"1.0","type":"link"}