Straw white glaze tea bowl Nishidansei

Width: 14.4cm Depth: 14.6cm Height: 10.8cm

Straw white-glazed tea bowl by Nishibata Tadashi - The organic rhythm of snow-covered red clay

A landscape of straw-white glaze that resembles snowflakes

The straw-white glaze that covers this piece seems to capture the moment when the snow melts in places, revealing the earth below. The soft white color derived from straw ash partially shows through the reddish-brown base, creating warm shadows like the winter sun shining through gaps in the bark. The contrast between white and brown avoids monotony, while skillfully balancing the opposing impressions of tranquility and rustic charm, leaving a deep impression in the viewer's mind.

Rounded shape and star-shaped rim

While the body is primarily round, it has a "dent" that can be pressed inward with a finger, forming an outline that is close to a star. This slight deformation gives rhythm to the quiet sphere and increases the sense of stability when held in the palm of your hand. The small ripples that appear on the rim also soften the mouthfeel and add a graceful movement that visually evokes the ridges of an avalanche of snow.

Deep breathing brought about by Tanba soil

The base is made of iron-rich coarse clay from Tanba, and the red clay shows through the thin parts of the glaze, breathing a warmth into the quiet white of the straw-white glaze. The roughness of the clay particles is faintly visible under the glaze layer, allowing you to sense the life-like quality of natural materials even in the smooth white glaze.

Functional beauty as a tea bowl

The inside of the teapot is rounded and slightly deep, so it can be used for both thin and thick tea without interfering with the movement of the chasen. The thick body transfers heat gently and keeps the temperature gentle when held in the hand, making it comfortable to use even at tea ceremonies in the winter. The base is low and modest, but well carved to ensure stability on the table.

The contrast between white and brown brings out the green of matcha

The soft white of the straw white glaze makes the vivid green of the matcha stand out even more. When brewing thick tea, the white glaze surface is quietly reflected on the dark brown liquid, and when brewing thin tea, the pale colors of green and white flicker inside the vessel. Throughout the tea ceremony, you can enjoy the poetic scenery reminiscent of young grass sprouting above the snow.

A design that connects tradition and innovation

While rooted in the long history of Tamba ware, Nishibata Tadashi pursues unprecedented beauty in form with bold indentations and elegant rims. Using the classic material of straw white glaze, there are few examples that so clearly contrast with the red clay, making this an ambitious work that shows the intersection of tradition and innovation.

Scenery that grows with time

The fine crazing in the glaze layer will take on a subtle tea color with repeated use, transforming into a warm scene like a soft sunset shining on a snowy surface. The natural color change that occurs along the crazing is proof that the vessel will grow with the owner's years, and you can truly enjoy the joy of embodying "beauty in utility."

This straw white-glazed tea bowl reflects both the melting snow and the breath of spring. Hold it in your palm, make tea, and treasure the scenery that develops over time. The quiet story woven by the harmony of white and brown will make your tea ceremony experience even deeper and richer.

Masashi Nishibata Biography

Born on February 24, 1948. Started making pottery in 1969. 1976. Hyogo Prefectural Exhibition Encouragement Award. 1986. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition for the first time. 1988. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Japan Crafts Association President's Award. 1989. Selected for the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, Handon no Kai, Nogawa Memorial Award. 1991. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Selected for the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, Grand Prize at the Tea Ceremony Forms Exhibition. 1992. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Tea Ceremony Forms Exhibition, Excellence Award, Hyogo Prefecture Emerging Artist Encouragement Award. Invited to exhibit at the NHK-sponsored Paris-Japanese Ceramics Now 100 Selections, Excellence Award at the Tea Ceremony Forms Exhibition. 1993. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Solo Exhibition at Sogo Hiroshima Store, Kyoto Chemin. 1994. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Solo Exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store. 1995. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Solo Exhibition at Sogo Hiroshima Store. 1996. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Awarded the Excellence Award at the Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition, solo exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store
1997 Encouragement Award at the Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition 1998 Selected for the Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition Solo exhibition at Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Selected for the Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition 2000 Solo exhibition at Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Solo exhibition at Mitsukoshi Fukuoka 2001 Selected for the Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition at Gallery Dojima 2002 Solo exhibition at Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Solo exhibition at Gallery Dojima 2003 Solo exhibition at Santa Fe Touchingston, USA 2004 Father and son exhibition at Sogo Hiroshima store Grand Prize at the Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition 2005 Exhibited at Akashi City Museum of Culture and Hyogo Ceramics Exhibition Purchased Akadobedai, Hyogo Ceramic Art Museum Solo exhibition at Gallery Dojima Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi 2006 Grand Prize at the Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition Selected for the Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Japan Society Gallery of New York Solo exhibition at Takashimaya Yokohama Touchingston, USA Father and son exhibition at Takashimaya Matsuyama 2007 Toshun-kai Exhibition, Sogo Yokohama Encouragement Award at the Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition Selected for the Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition 2008 Selected for the Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition Solo Exhibition, Yokohama Takashimaya Mitsukoshi Main Store, Santa Fe, Touchingston, USA Toshun-kai Exhibition, Funabashi Seibu Sogo Hiroshima Invited to exhibit at the Japanese Ceramics Exhibition 2009 Solo Exhibition, Gallery Dojima, Sendai Mitsukoshi 2010 Sogo Kobe Exhibited at the Musee Tomo Grand Prize Exhibition, Contemporary Tea Solo Exhibition, Yokohama Takashimaya Touchingston, USA, Santa Fe, 2011 Invited to exhibit at the Japanese Ceramics Exhibition Solo Exhibition, Joan B. Marvis, New York, USA Invited to exhibit at the Japanese Ceramics Exhibition 2013 Exhibited at the Musee Tomo "Contemporary Famous Bowls" Solo Exhibition, Mitsukoshi Main Store, Santa Fe, USA Miyazaki Gallery, Sogo Kobe Chiba Sogo 2014 Solo Exhibition Solo Exhibition, Mitsukoshi Main Store, Santa Fe, USA 2015 Received the Hyogo Prefecture Cultural Award in 2016. Exhibited at Higashihiroshima City Museum of Art for Ceramics that Color Our Lives - Food Wares. Exhibited at Joan B. Marvis' 40th Anniversary Exhibition in 2017.
Solo Exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store in 2018

A conversation with Masashi Nishibata