Tanba Red Tea Bowl Nishitan Masashi

Width: 12.2cm Depth: 12.0cm Height: 10.0cm

Tanba Red Tea Bowl by Nishihata Tadashi - Captures the moment when the iron of the earth turns crimson red with the embers

The strength of the crimson-colored Tanba clay

The brilliant red that covers the exterior of this piece is achieved by applying a red clay glaze (a coating containing a large amount of iron oxide) to rough clay from Tanba, which is rich in iron, and then transitioning from a strong reduction atmosphere to a light oxidation atmosphere towards the end. The scarlet that appears in the moment when the iron combines with oxygen and undergoes a phase transition was captured by the skill of the kiln firing, resulting in a deep, clear vermilion that is fixed on the surface of the vessel. Unlike the glossy glaze scenery of Akaraku, the fine iron grains leave a matte texture, giving it a rustic yet sophisticated look.

The contrast of colors created by the dark brown interior

A dark brown luster spreads from the inside to the inside wall, creating a vivid complementary color relationship with the red of the exterior. This is the result of the iron glaze created in the reduction zone vitrifying at high temperatures and forming a smooth surface. When reflected against the green of the matcha tea, the three primary colors of green, red, and black complement each other, bringing dramatic contrast and great depth to the tea ceremony.

Soft egg-shaped form and thin cut

The body is slightly tall, but has a soft curve reminiscent of an eggshell. The rim is slightly wavy, and has been thinly carved with the fingertips to create a comfortable mouthfeel. The entire piece is thin, so it feels light when you hold it in your hand and at the same time conveys the slight warmth unique to red clay, supporting the movements of the tea ceremony with ease.

The feeling of the earth dwelling on the hilltop

The sides of the foot are left glazed, leaving the bare surface of the Tanba clay exposed. The reddish-brown base and the scarlet exterior maintain continuity, while the ash scattered during firing changes slightly to a blue-gray color, creating a landscape reminiscent of geological strata. The rough grain and curly quartz veins seen here speak eloquently of the presence of iron ore and feldspar hidden in the mountains and fields of Tanba, imbuing the vessel with the breath of the earth.

Functional beauty as tea ceremony utensils

The generously sized hemispherical shape of the inside of the bowl fully accommodates the movement of the chasen tea whisk, helping to create a uniform froth. Although the bowl is thin, the high-temperature firing process tightens the pot's body, ensuring good heat retention and maintaining the right temperature for both thick and thin tea. The base is cut low, giving the bowl excellent stability on the table, and it blends in naturally with modern table settings.

Tanba Red and the Zen Spirit

Red is originally a color that symbolizes vitality and good fortune, but in the context of wabi-cha tea, it acts as an accent that highlights the contrast of "wabi-sabi". When a tea bowl clad in pure red is placed next to white or black vessels that represent emptiness and impermanence, it gives the viewer an intuitive sense of the cycle of "life and death" and deepens Zen meditation. Based on this philosophy, Nishihata Masaru draws out the beauty of the blank space by letting the shape speak only of the natural scarlet nurtured by the earth and fire.

A story that takes time

The matte red exterior will absorb the oils from your hands and take on a glossy look over time, while the dark brown interior will take on a dull metallic sheen as it mixes with tea stains. Because it does not have any crazing, the dyeing process is gradual, but the color and luster change in a smooth gradation, and the color will become deeper with years of use.

This Tanba red tea bowl captures the exact moment when the flames turn the iron of the earth to crimson red. When you hold it in your palm, you will feel the warmth and quiet strength of a wildfire, leaving a vivid impression on the once-in-a-lifetime experience of the tea ceremony. We hope you will treasure it for a long time and enjoy the color of the red that grows over the years as it breathes.

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