Bizen white sake cup

This is a Bizen white sake cup by Takashi Baba, an artist born in Imbe who has loved Bizen ware since childhood and finds his life's joy in crafting works and firing kilns. By blending porcelain clay into Bizen clay, this piece possesses both the refreshing texture of porcelain and a sensitivity to the flames characteristic of Bizen ware. Despite its deceptively simple first impression, it is full of highlights, including the contrast between matte and glossy areas on its white surface, the ash glaze that appears like splashed ink against the white backdrop, and a gradation of pink to pale orange created by sensitive reactions to temperature changes. Incorporating the smart aesthetics of porcelain, the design is a true hybrid of Bizen and porcelain. Although it is Bizen ware, it is a cool, refreshing vessel that is perfect for summer. Signed wooden box (double-crosspiece)
Diameter 7.5cm × Diameter 7.4cm × Height 5.3cm Takashi Baba was born in 1983 as the eldest son of Bizen ware artist Shosuke Baba. Thinking he would become a potter from a young age, he chose to study sculpture in university to broaden his perspective on ceramics. After graduating from the Sculpture Department of Tokyo University of the Arts in 2006, he honed his skills at the Kyoto Municipal Institute of Industrial Technology and Culture. He became independent in 2007 and held his first solo exhibition. He is currently active mainly through solo exhibitions at department stores.