Straw white glaze teacup by Nishibata Masashi

Width: 8.6cm Depth: 8.6cm Height: 10.4cm

Straw white glaze teacup by Tadashi Nishibata

- Red and white, the opposing forms of aesthetic sense

This piece, "Straw White Glazed Teacup," is a striking piece that brings out Nishibata Tadashi's aesthetic sense with its striking contrast between the shape and the glaze. Standing majestically at over 10cm tall, the sharply cut red clay lines create an impressive appearance, making it a teacup that is almost like a sculptural work.

A red and white composition that creates tension

The straw white glaze on the surface of the vessel is rather thick, with tiny black iron powder scattered throughout the matte white. The red clay surface, which appears to pierce the white sharply, has a strength like a layer of earth cracked open, and the quiet white and bold red complement each other. This color composition is not just decorative, but also brings a sense of tension and rhythm to the vessel as a whole.

The beauty and balance of form as a vessel

The body is gently tightened, but opens slightly towards the edge, providing a natural flow that guides the water to the mouth. The surface, which has been deliberately left with the rhythm of wheel-throwing, has a slight wobble that creates a gentle fit when held in the hand. With a height of 10.4cm, the standing shape of this teacup gives it the dignity of a flower vase.

The power of red clay

The red clay from Tanba used by Nishibata-sama leaves a strong, distinct character in the unglazed parts. The lustrous reddish-brown texture that emerges from the firing process is the result of the iron in the clay and the firing environment, and is the result of a dialogue between the fire and the clay. The slight bleeding and scorching visible at the boundary with the glaze are also evidence that this piece was fired in harmony with nature.

A sculptural teacup for everyday use

This teacup is not just an everyday item, but has the presence of an "objet d'art" when placed in your daily living space. It has a tranquil beauty that will stay in your mind even if you just display it and look at it, and it has a high level of harmony between function and beauty.

This "Straw White Glazed Teacup" is a work that only Nishibata Tadashi could create, as he has listened carefully to the power of the form and the voice of the material. The beauty of contrast, the beauty of undulations, the beauty of earth - all of these are condensed into this vessel, which will become more tasteful the more you use it, and will add a quiet and powerful beauty to your life.

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