Ruri Ricebowl Hidariuma

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

It is one of his latest pieces, fired in a newly designed Noborigama (climbing kiln) in June 2025 (Reiwa 7).
On the lower part of the bowl, a lucky “Hidari-uma” (left-facing horse) motif is incised.

The piece is made with Shigaraki clay as a base and coated with a cobalt Ruri glaze,
showing Baba’s serious, research-driven approach to glazes in a fully fledged glazed work.

The rough, rustic character of the Shigaraki clay responds beautifully to the Ruri glaze,
creating rich variations in tone across the surface: areas that are almost black,
and areas where a deep blue seems to shine through.

On the inside of the bowl, there are traces of natural ash carried by the flame,
which has fused with the Ruri glaze and flowed gently down into the interior.

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.