Ruri Yunomi Hidariuma

This is a Bizen Ruri Yunomi by Takashi Baba, who was born in Inbe and has loved Bizen ware since childhood, finding joy throughout his life in both creating works and firing the kiln.

It is one of his latest pieces, fired in a newly designed Noborigama (climbing kiln) in June 2025 (Reiwa 7), with a lucky Hidari-uma (left-facing horse) motif carved around the waist.

The piece is made with Shigaraki clay as a base and coated with a cobalt Ruri glaze,
a truly serious glazed work that is very characteristic of Baba’s dedication to glaze research.

The rough, rustic character of the Shigaraki clay interacts beautifully with the Ruri glaze,
creating rich variations in tone across the surface.
Depending on the light and the angle at which you hold the Yunomi, it shows many different expressions.

On the inside near the rim, the glaze is applied relatively thickly, giving a deep Ruri color,
while around the curved area of the inner wall near the waist, the Ruri becomes thinner.
Seen as a whole from the inside, this creates a very interesting glaze effect with a strong sense of depth.

He was born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture in 1983.
He graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts in 2006.
Since 2007 he has been working as a ceramic artist in Bizen City.