Painted gray glaze tea bowl Nobuhito Nakaoka

Height: 9.8cm Width: 13.0cm

Colored gray-glazed tea bowl by Nobuhito Nakaoka - the crystallization of Tamba tradition and creativity

The appeal of colored gray-glazed tea bowls

The colored ash-glazed tea bowl is a masterpiece that combines Nobuhito Nakaoka'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 anything else. While inheriting the traditional techniques of Tamba ware, Nakaoka's unique approach adds a new beauty to it.

Tradition and innovation of Tamba ware

Tamba ware is one of the six ancient kilns in Japan that has been around since the Nara period, and is characterized by a rich variety of expressive techniques, mainly using natural glazes and ash glazes. The green of the natural glaze, the warmth of the red clay glaze, and the transparency of the white glaze create the unique expression of Tamba ware. Well-known traditional decorative methods include "nagashi glaze" and "suminagashi". The chance patterns created by these techniques are also highly valued as tea ceremony utensils.

Nobuhito Nakaoka has incorporated pigments such as gosu and manganese into this traditional Tamba ware, and has established a new expression by fusing it with ash glaze. The glaze is made with oak ash and earth ash, and is characterized by a transparency like that of Vidoro and a texture that evokes the flow of nature. This "Colored Ash Glaze" series is a work that beautifully harmonizes the clay of Tamba, traditional techniques, and Nakaoka's originality.

The culmination of technology and trial and error

Nakaoka-san has continued his research into ash glazes even after going independent, making use of his experience researching glazes at the Kyoto Municipal Industrial Testing Institute. He undertook a great deal of trial and error in adjusting the firing temperature and time to control the flow and color of the glaze. The firing temperature is 1,240 degrees. The high temperature causes the glaze to flow, and the vivid colors of the gosu and manganese are in perfect harmony with the matte texture of the ash glaze.

This technique creates a beautiful streak of glaze running down the surface of the tea bowl. This technique, which requires delicate calculations and the intuition of an artisan, is the product 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 combines the vivid 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 a special experience. The tea you drink from this tea bowl will taste even more delicious.

A special item that will brighten up your tea ceremony time

This tea bowl brings an elegant atmosphere to the tea ceremony and is a visual and tactile pleasure. The flow of the glaze and the change in color will give you new discoveries every time you use it, so you will never tire of it. This piece, which respects the traditions of the tea ceremony while also showcasing a modern sensibility, will blend in with any tea ceremony.

Lasting Value

Nobuhito Nakaoka's colored ash-glazed tea bowls will retain their beauty even over time. The more they are used, the deeper their texture will become, and they will build a special relationship with the user. They are masterpieces that can be used for a lifetime, and are valuable pieces that can be passed down to the next generation.

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Experiences gained through the work

The "Colored Gray Glazed Tea Bowl by Nobuhito Nakaoka" is a one-of-a-kind piece that combines the traditions 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 created with the clay of Tamba.

Profile of Nobuhito Nakaoka

1977 Born in Osaka
1996 After graduating from high school, he studied under Tanba ware artist "Nishibata Tadashi"
2001 Graduated from Kyoto City Industrial Research Institute Ceramics Department
2003: Assigned to Saint Vincent as a member of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers
2005 Term ended. Returned to Japan.
2006 Became independent in Tachikui, Sasayama City

Selected Works Awards
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 of Art 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 of Art Grand Prize, Tea Ceremony Formation Exhibition, Excellence Award Kobe Biennale 2013, Contemporary Ceramic Art Competition, Semi-Grand Prize 31st Chozo Prize Tokoname Ceramic Art Exhibition, Selected Contemporary Ceramic Art Hagi Grand Prize Exhibition III, Honorable Mention
2014 10th International Ceramic Exhibition Mino International Ceramic 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 Selected for the Japan Ceramic Association Encouragement Award Kansai Exhibition
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
Selected for the 2021 Kasama Ceramic Art Grand Prize Exhibition

Exhibition
2009 Kobe Art Marche (until 2015)
2010 Kobe Sogo Group Kiln Exhibition
2011 Toyoda Sake Ware 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 Solo Exhibition Kobe Sogo Group Kiln Exhibition Ie soleil et la lune Nakaoka Nobuto Ceramics Exhibition
2013 Toyoda Sake Ware Solo Exhibition Wad "My Cup Clothes Exhibition" Group Exhibition Art Salon Yamaki Solo Exhibition
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 your life, food utensils" 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 Collection" Invited to exhibit at the TEA BOUL Exhibition of Gyeongsangnam-Do, Hyogo Ceramic Art Museum (Korea)
2017 Gallery Voice "Today's Tableware, Tomorrow's 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 Hankyu Umeda Main Store Solo Exhibition Kakiden Gallery Tamba Exhibition Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store "Feature on Tea Bowls by Contemporary Artists"
Nagoya Sakae Mitsukoshi Solo Exhibition
2019 Ginza Mitsukoshi Tea Ceremony Two-Person Exhibition Sake Ware Toyoda Solo Exhibition (Kyoto)
Nihombashi Mitsukoshi Main Store "Special 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 Fukuoka Mitsukoshi Solo Exhibition Kyoto Takashimaya Solo Exhibition

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