Youhen Ao Tokkuri

This is a new *Yohen-Ao* (transmuted blue) sake bottle by Takashi Baba, who was born in Imbe, has loved Bizen ware since childhood, and finds his life's joy in creating works and firing kilns. This is his latest work, just removed from the kiln in October. It is an evolution of the *Kuro-Bizen* (black Bizen) achieved through Baba's signature slip-painting technique, featuring a new *Yohen-Ao* style where parts of the black surface have transformed into a vivid cobalt blue. The most striking feature is the intense cobalt blue coloration titled "Yohen-Ao," but even in the black areas, the strong firing has produced a deep, glossy, jewel-like blackness that is more pronounced than usual. Centered around a bead-like glaze drip that looks like a sash when viewed from the front, beautiful *Yohen-Ao* appears on the left, while vibrant yellow *Yohen* appears on the right, making it look as if the bottle is wearing a different colored garment on each side. (There is some peeling of the *goma* glaze at the shell mark and some clay wrinkles on the bottom, but these do not affect usage.) Signed paulownia wood box to follow later
Rim 3.9cm × Body diameter 9.3cm × Body diameter 9.2cm × Height 13.7cm　Capacity approx. 400cc 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 sculpture in university to broaden the scope of his pottery. After graduating from the Tokyo University of the Arts with a degree in sculpture in 2006, he entered the Kyoto Municipal Institute of Industrial Technology and Culture to refine his skills. He became independent in 2007 and held his first solo exhibition. He is currently active mainly through solo exhibitions at department stores.