Tanba Red Tea Bowl Nishitan Masashi

Width: 13.4cm Depth: 12.3cm Height: 10.2cm

Tanba Red Tea Bowl by Nishibata Masashi - The Tanba land shines scarlet in the glow of the embers

1. Deep red color - the color that appears when iron breathes

The deep red color of this piece was achieved by impregnating rough clay from Tanba with a large amount of iron, firing it once to a dark brown color using strong reduction, and then firing it in two stages, which then turns to an oxidizing atmosphere at the end. The pure scarlet color is created by capturing the "instantaneous oxidation" that occurs when the embers shift direction slightly. The fine iron particles remaining in the ceramic body maintain the matte texture, creating an appearance that is both rustic and refined.

2. The soft, spherical shape and wavy rim are reminiscent of an eggshell.

The overall shape is a slightly high-waisted egg shape that converges with a gentle curve toward the inside. The rim is not cut in a single line on the potter's wheel, but is gently pushed back with the fingers to give it a slight unevenness and a soft finish on the mouth. This fluctuation relieves the tension of the all-red color and adds a warm rhythm to the tea ceremony.

3. The jet black glaze on the interior walls creates a complementary color effect.

A thick layer of iron glaze runs through the inside of the pot, giving it a lustrous black sheen. The contrast between the scarlet exterior and the black interior creates a vivid interplay of green, red, and black when matcha is poured into the pot. When light tea is used, the white bubbles stand out against the red edges, while when dark tea is used, the deep brown color blends with the black glaze, creating a mysterious atmosphere like a bonfire on an autumn night.

4. The foundations remaining on the plateau - the memories of the earth

The foot is cut modestly and left unglazed to expose the reddish brown color of the Tanba clay. The ash that adheres to the clay during firing turns a faint blue-gray color, creating a landscape reminiscent of a geological layer at the border with the scarlet color. The quartz grains and feldspar veins visible here are evidence of the minerals nurtured by the mountains and fields of Tanba, giving the pottery a quiet breath of life.

5. Functional beauty as a tea ceremony tool

The thin body is lightweight, but has excellent strength and heat retention because it is fired at high temperatures. The wide opening does not interfere with the movement of the tea whisk and makes it easy to adjust the foam, making it suitable for both thin and thick tea. The low base also ensures stability on the table and goes well with modern tableware.

6. The spirit of Tamba Aka combines simplicity and brilliance

Red is originally a color that symbolizes "yang," but this piece's matte texture and fine iron spots reduce its flashiness, harmonizing with the spirit of wabi-cha tea. Nishihata Tadashi said, "The red of Tamba is a mirror that simultaneously reflects the brilliance of the flames and the simplicity of the earth," and he chose a design that is as free of decoration as possible to make the most of the earth's flavor.

7. The luster and shadows that develop over time

The red exterior will absorb the oils from your hands and take on a soft luster as you use it. The black glaze on the interior will deepen its dull metallic luster as it mixes with the tea stains, and although it does not have any crazing, the color will have a gentle gradation. As time passes, the border between the red and black will blend together, creating a unique look for the owner, which is another joy that only this piece can offer.

The scarlet veil drawn by the embers and the Tanba red tea bowl that holds the memory of the earth - this is the crystallization of a quiet flame woven together by the reliable technique of Nishida Masashi and the power of nature. Please treasure it for a long time and enjoy the color that deepens over the years as the red 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