Straw white glaze tea bowl Nishidansei

Width: 14.6cm Depth: 13.2cm Height: 10.8cm

The refined beauty of pure white straw glaze

The straw-white glaze that encases this piece has a pure white texture reminiscent of fresh snow, but with reddish-brown spots scattered throughout. The iron contained in the straw ash works in harmony with the flames to create a natural scene, evoking a sense of profound depth that goes beyond simple "white." Subtle shadows emerge from the clear white, creating a coexistence of tranquility and tension, which is a major attraction.

The beauty of the shape created by the triangular chamfer

The gently sloping triangular structure that continues from the inside to the body is an original form born from Nishibata Tadashi's many years of research. The ridges, which are neither too sharp nor too soft, give rhythm to the entire bowl, and when it is held in the palm of your hand, your fingertips naturally follow the surface for stability. The light casts shadows according to the angle of the chamfer, and each time you look at it, a different expression emerges, making it a sight to behold.

A bold design that no one has ever attempted before

While respecting the traditions of Tamba ware, the combination of such bold chamfering and pure white glaze is extremely rare. Controlling the angle and depth of the chamfering and the thickness of the glaze requires a high level of skill, and it cannot be achieved without a skillful firing plan that reads the movement of the flame. Nishibata Tadashi has breathed new possibilities into traditional Tamba ware, elevating the tea bowl to a "sculptural presence."

A fusion of overwhelming presence and elegance

Despite its dynamic form, where sharp angles and curves intersect, the straw-white glaze that covers the surface casts a soft light, giving the piece an overall impression of elegance and tranquility. Under the subdued lighting of a tea ceremony, the contrast between white and reddish-brown stands out even more, drawing the attention of guests.

Beauty with practicality

This piece is designed not only as a work of art to be appreciated, but also as a vessel to be used. The slight undulations on the rim make it soft to the touch, and the triangular surface at the back makes it easier to maintain the rhythm of turning the tea whisk. Its lightness and stability in the hand make it an ideal tea bowl for everyday use, and the more you use it, the more you can enjoy the process of the straw-white glaze becoming more expressive.

A crystallization of traditional techniques and innovation

This work, which respects the simple earthiness and ash glaze techniques inherited from Tamba ware, achieves a form and glaze scenery that no one has attempted before, truly standing at the nexus of tradition and innovation. It brings out the infinite expressions hidden in the color white and reinterprets the sensibility of "wabi-sabi" in the tea ceremony in a modern form.

The joy of watching with friends

The changing shadows created by the beveled edges and the fresh appearance of the straw-white glaze bring new discoveries every time you change the angle. If you talk while passing this tea bowl around during a tea ceremony, you will be able to share the various expressions that appear depending on the angle and the way the light hits it, further enriching the once-in-a-lifetime moment.

A timeless masterpiece

With repeated use, the straw white glaze develops minute crazing and changes in color, and the experience of the tea ceremony is imprinted directly on the piece as its history. The process of imbuing history within the white is what makes this piece a beloved piece that transcends generations. We are confident in recommending this piece as a one-of-a-kind piece that hints at the future of Tamba ware and one that can be treasured for many years to come.

Tadashi 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. Nogawa Memorial Award, Handon no Kai. 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. Excellence Award at the Tea Ceremony Forms Exhibition. Hyogo Prefecture Emerging Artist Encouragement Award. Invited to exhibit at the NHK-sponsored Paris - 100 Contemporary Japanese Ceramics Exhibition. 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 Design Exhibition, solo exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store
1997 Encouragement Award at the Tea Ceremony Design Exhibition 1998 Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition Solo exhibition at Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition 2000 Solo exhibition at Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store Solo exhibition at Mitsukoshi Fukuoka 2001 Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition 2002 Solo exhibition at Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store Solo exhibition at Gallery Dojima 2003 Solo exhibition at Touchingston, USA 2004 Grand Prize at the Tea Ceremony Design Exhibition at Sogo Hiroshima 2005 Exhibited at the Akashi City Museum of Culture and Hyogo Ceramics Exhibition Purchase of Akadobedai, Hyogo Ceramic Art Museum Solo exhibition at Gallery Dojima, Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store 2006 Grand Prize at the Tea Ceremony Design Exhibition Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the New York Japan Society Gallery Solo exhibition at Yokohama Takashimaya Touchingston, USA Father and Son Exhibition at Matsuyama Takashimaya Toshunkai Exhibition, Sogo Yokohama. Encouragement Award at the Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition in 2008. Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition. Solo Exhibition, Yokohama Takashimaya, Mitsukoshi Nihombashi, Santa Fe, Touchingston, USA. Toshunkai Exhibition, Funabashi, Seibu, Sogo Hiroshima. Invited to the Japanese Ceramics Exhibition in 2009. Solo Exhibition, Gallery Dojima, Sendai Mitsukoshi, 2010. Sogo Kobe. Exhibited in the Musee Tomo Grand Prize Exhibition, Contemporary Tea. Solo Exhibition, Yokohama Takashimaya, Touchingston, USA. Invited to the Japanese Ceramics Exhibition. Solo Exhibition, Joan B. Marvis, New York, USA. Invited to the Japanese Ceramics Exhibition in 2013. Exhibited in the "Contemporary Famous Bowls" exhibition at the Musee Tomo, Kanmi Kikuchi Memorial. Solo Exhibition, Mitsukoshi Nihombashi, Santa Fe, Touchingston, USA. Gallery Miyazaki, Sogo Kobe, Chiba Sogo, 2014. Solo Exhibition, Mitsukoshi Nihombashi, 2015. Received the Hyogo Prefecture Cultural Award in 2016. Exhibited at Higashihiroshima City Museum of Art for "Ceramics that Color Our Lives - Food Ware" Exhibited at Joan B. Marvis' 40th Anniversary Exhibition in 2017.
2018 Solo Exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store

A conversation with Tadashi Nishibata