Painted gray glaze tea bowl Nobuhito Nakaoka

Height: 9.8cm Width: 13.0cm

Colored ash-glazed tea bowl by Nobuhito Nakaoka - A crystallization of Tamba tradition and creativity

The appeal of colored ash-glazed tea bowls

The colored ash-glazed tea bowl is a masterpiece that combines Nakaoka Nobuhito's outstanding technique and unique aesthetic sense. By skillfully combining pigments such as gosu and manganese with ash glaze, it produces a unique color and texture that is unlike any other. While inheriting the traditional techniques of Tamba ware, Nakaoka's unique approach adds a new beauty to the bowl.

Tradition and innovation of Tamba ware

Tamba ware is one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns, dating back to the Nara period, and is characterized by its rich expressive techniques, centered on natural glaze and ash glaze. The green of the natural glaze, the warmth of the red clay glaze, and the transparency of the white glaze create the unique look of Tamba ware. Well-known traditional decorative methods include "nagashi glaze" and "suminagashi" (flowing glaze). The random patterns created by these techniques are also highly valued for tea ceremony utensils.

Nakaoka Nobuhito has incorporated pigments such as gosu and manganese into this traditional Tamba ware, establishing a new style of expression by combining them with ash glazes. Oak ash and earth ash are used for the glazes, and they are characterized by a transparency like that of glass beads and a texture that evokes the flow of nature. This "Colored Ash Glaze" series is a work that beautifully harmonizes Tamba clay, traditional techniques, and Nakaoka's originality.

The fruit of technology and trial and error

Nakaoka has continued his research into ash glazes since going independent, drawing on his experience researching glazes at the Kyoto Municipal Industrial Testing Institute. He undertook numerous trials and errors to adjust the firing temperature and time to control the flow and color development of the glaze. The firing temperature is 1,240°C. The high temperature allows the glaze to flow, creating an exquisite harmony between the vibrant colors of the gosu and manganese and the matte texture of the ash glaze.

This technique creates a beautiful streaky effect of glaze flowing across the surface of the bowl. This technique, which requires delicate calculations and the artisan's intuition, is the result of Nakaoka's deep curiosity and experience.

An elegant and sophisticated tea bowl

The colored ash-glazed tea bowl features an elegant and sophisticated design that exquisitely blends the vibrant colors of gosu and manganese with the matte texture of the ash glaze. Its shape fits comfortably in the hand and has a comfortable weight, making your tea ceremony experience even more special. Tea served with this bowl will taste even better.

A special item that will add color to your tea ceremony time

This tea bowl brings an elegant atmosphere to any tea ceremony and is a pleasure to both the eye and the touch. The flow of the glaze and the changing colors offer new discoveries with each use, so you will never tire of it. This piece, which respects the traditions of the tea ceremony while shining with a modern sensibility, will blend in with any tea ceremony.

Lasting Value

Nakaoka Nobuhito's colored ash-glazed tea bowls retain their beauty over time. The more they are used, the more their texture deepens, building a special relationship with the user. They are masterpieces that can be cherished for a lifetime and are valuable works that can be passed down to future generations.

Experiences gained through the work

The "Colored Ash-Glazed Tea Bowl by Nakaoka Nobuto" is a one-of-a-kind piece that combines the tradition of Tamba ware with modern beauty. Its deep color and refined form will make your tea ceremony experience even more special. Please take this masterpiece in your hands and enjoy the supreme beauty that Nakaoka has created through his work with Tamba clay.

Nobuhito Nakaoka Biography

1977 Born in Osaka
1996 After graduating from high school, he studied under Tanba ware artist Tadashi Nishibata
2001 Kyoto City Industrial Research Institute Ceramics Department
2003: Assigned to Saint Vincent as a ceramics volunteer with the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers
2005 Term ends, return to Japan
2006 Became independent in Tachikui, Sasayama City

Selected Works
2010 Selected for the Hagi Grand Prize Exhibition of Contemporary Ceramics
2011 Kobe Biennale 2011 Contemporary Ceramic Art Competition Selected
2012 Selected for the 29th Tanabe Museum Grand Prize Exhibition of Tea Ceremony Art (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020)
Selected for the Itami International Craft Exhibition Sake Ware and Sake Cup Stand
2013 30th Tanabe Museum Grand Prize, Tea Ceremony Forms Exhibition, Excellence Award Kobe Biennale 2013, Contemporary Ceramic Art Competition, Runner-up Prize 31st Chozo Prize Tokoname Ceramic Art Exhibition, Selected, Contemporary Ceramic Art Hagi Grand Prize Exhibition III, Honorable Mention
2014 10th International Ceramics Exhibition Mino, International Ceramics Competition, Selected
2015 Kobe Biennale 2015 Contemporary Ceramic Art Competition Selected 32nd Chozo Prize Tokoname Ceramic Art Exhibition Selected
2017 Selected for the 10th Contemporary Tea Ceramics Exhibition
2018 Japan Ceramic Association Encouragement Award Kansai Exhibition Selected
2019 Selected for the 12th Contemporary Tea Ceramics Exhibition
Selected for the 25th Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, Contemporary Ceramic Art Hagi Grand Prize Exhibition V, Excellence Award
2020 13th Contemporary Tea Ceramics Exhibition Selected
2021 Kasama Ceramic Art Grand Prize Exhibition Selected

Exhibition
2009 Kobe Art Marche (until 2015)
2010 Kobe Sogo Group Kiln Exhibition
2011 Toyoda Midsummer Cold Sake Cup Exhibition (2012 2013)
Art Salon Yamaki, Tanba-yaki "Group Kiln" Three-person Exhibition, Hanshin Umeda Main Store, New Artist Ceramics Exhibition 2012, Gallery Voice, Bowl Shape Sake Ware Toyoda Solo Exhibition, Matsuzakaya Nagoya Store, Tanba Young Artists Three-person Exhibition, Seibu Shibuya Store, Solo Exhibition, Kobe Sogo, Group Kiln Exhibition, Ie soleil et la lune, Nakaoka Nobuto Ceramic Exhibition
2013 Solo exhibition at Toyoda Sake Ware Wad "My Cup Clothes Exhibition" Group exhibition Solo exhibition at Art Salon Yamaki
2014 Kobe Sogo Group Kiln Exhibition Identity & Originarity ~ Contemporary Ceramics New Collection Exhibition ~ Hyogo Ceramic Art Museum Kochi Daimaru 4-person exhibition
decoplay (Taiwan) 3-person exhibition at Seibu Shibuya store ~En~
Art Salon Yamaki Solo Exhibition
2015 Ritz-Carlton Osaka Group Exhibition Toyoda Sake Ware Solo Exhibition Torin Shungama 3-person Exhibition Matsuzakaya Nagoya Store Solo Exhibition Tosei Nagaoka Store Group Exhibition Lesoleil et la lune Solo Exhibition Deco play (Taiwan) Group Exhibition Takashimaya Yokohama Store Group Exhibition
2016 Contemporary Art - Life & Art - "Ceramics that add color to our lives, tableware" Higashihiroshima Municipal Museum of Art Hankyu Umeda Solo Exhibition "Nobuhito Nakaoka's 10th Anniversary Exhibition"
MIZEN FINE ART Tea Ceremony Exhibition (France)
Kakiden Gallery "TANBA: Tea Ceremony Exhibition by 10 Artists"
"Rencontre: Intersecting Contemporary Ceramic Art Collection" The Museum of Ceramic Art, Hyogo Invited to exhibit at the TEA BOUL Exhibition of Gyeongsangnam-Do (Korea)
2017 Gallery Voice "Current Tableware, Future Tableware"
REVELATION Art Fair 2017 at the Grand Parisi (France)
Fukuoka Mitsukoshi Solo Exhibition Kakiden Gallery "Four Ideas Pottery Exhibition"
2018 Deco play (Taiwan) Solo Exhibition at Hankyu Umeda Main Store Solo Exhibition at Kakiden Gallery Tamba Exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store "Feature on Tea Bowls by Contemporary Artists"
Nagoya Sakae Mitsukoshi Solo Exhibition
2019 Ginza Mitsukoshi Tea Ceramic Two-Person Exhibition, Sake Ware Toyoda Solo Exhibition (Kyoto)
Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store "Feature on Tea Bowls by Contemporary Artists"
2020 Solo Exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store "Ultramarine and Lyricism"
2021 Solo Exhibition at Hankyu Umeda Main Store Solo Exhibition at Fukuoka Mitsukoshi
2022 Contemporary Ceramics Hagi Grand Prize VI Selected

2023 Solo Exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store "Exploring Form"

2024 Solo exhibition at Fukuoka Mitsukoshi, solo exhibition at Kyoto Takashimaya

Public Collections, Hyogo Prefectural Ceramic Art Museum, Tanabe Museum of Art, Yamaguchi Prefectural Hagi Museum of Art