Ash-glazed sake cup by Masashi Nishibata

Width: 7.2cm Depth: 7.0cm Height: 7.0cm

Ash-glazed sake cup by Tadashi Nishibata

- A natural landscape painted with ash, a tranquil universe in the palm of your hand

This work, "Ash Glazed Sake Cup" by Nishibata Tadashi, is a small piece that encapsulates the beauty of natural glaze, the essence of Tamba ware. In a palm-sized vessel, a multi-layered landscape is created by the encounter of fire, ash, and earth.

A landscape created by ash glaze

On the surface of the vessel, wood ash accumulated during firing and melted naturally, creating beautiful flows of ash glaze. The pale bluish areas, milky white spots, and the reddish brown surface that emerged from the firing process all overlap, creating a sense of depth that seems to capture the scenery of mountains and watersides. The flowing glaze has a sense of dynamism, adding a sense of life to the vessel's tranquil appearance.

Six-sided structure and neat appearance

The entire cup is made up of beveled edges reminiscent of a hexagon. The gentle waves on the edge and the firm base give the vessel a sense of tension, giving it a dignified presence despite its small size. The rim is slightly uneven, exuding the warmth of handcrafting, and you can enjoy the change in feel when it touches your lips.

Memories engraved by ash and flames

This sake cup is shaped on a potter's wheel and then fired for a long time in a wood-fired kiln. The condition of the glaze changes depending on how the firewood burns, how the ash falls, and where the piece is placed inside the kiln, and this is reflected in the scenery of the piece. This process, which can truly be called "collaboration with nature," gives this vessel a unique expression.

Beauty in the silence

This vessel is far from extravagant or showy, yet has a quiet, yet unmistakable beauty that stays in the mind of the beholder. The way the light flickers when sake is poured into it, the scenery that rises as it threads through the glaze. It is a vessel that shows a new expression with each use, marking the passage of time with its owner.

The essence of Tamba ware in the palm of your hand

Nishibata Tadashi's technique and sensibility in taking full advantage of the natural material of ash glaze and the power of firing are beautifully embodied in this sake cup. A deep philosophy and aesthetic sense are imbued within the simple form, making it a vessel that truly embodies "beauty in utility."

This "Ash Glazed Sake Cup" is a masterpiece that combines practicality as a sake cup with artistic value that is worthy of admiration. Every time you use it, the memories of earth and fire will be transferred to your hands, enriching your daily moments.

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