Straw white glazed sake cup by Masashi Nishibata

Width: 8cm Depth: 7cm Height: 7cm

Straw white glaze sake cup by Nishibata Tadashi - A small universe in the palm of your hand, where the snow curtain and the red earth intersect on the sake cup

The snowy landscape depicted by the straw-white glaze

The straw white glaze that covers this piece is made when the silica and alkali contained in the straw vitrifies at the high temperatures of the wood-fired kiln, creating a soft milky white color. The iron from the base turns blackish brown and is dotted throughout the glaze, creating a scene reminiscent of the shadows of trees appearing on the snow in early spring. In places the glaze is thinly cut, revealing the reddish brown of the Tanba clay, like the moment when the earth underneath peeks out after the snow melts, and the trio of white, black and red gives the surface of the piece depth.

A sculptural form created by unevenness and bulges

The body is based on a gently sloping polygon, with vertically chamfered edges that cast shadows when exposed to light. Two protrusions are provided on the side, which function as fingerholds while also creating a sculptural accent reminiscent of an overhanging snow cornice. The rim is wavy, and the feel on the mouth changes subtly depending on the position of the mouthpiece, bringing a pleasant playfulness to the act of drinking.

The warm breath of Tanba clay

The base is made from rough clay from Tanba, which is rich in iron, and the reddish-brown skin is exposed where the glaze is thin. The coarse clay grains give a rough feel to the fingertips when touched, and in contrast to the smoothness of the straw-white glaze, you can experience the energy of "earth and fire" through both your eyes and your touch. The bottom is firmly fired but thin, so it feels light when held in the palm of your hand, and also has the functionality of gently keeping the temperature of the sake.

Functional beauty as a sake cup

The small size is perfect for a quick sip, and the sake poured spreads shallowly, allowing the aroma to rise without escaping. Holding the protrusion with your thumb and supporting the bottom with your index and middle fingers will naturally result in a stable grip. If you are serving cold sake, the contrast between black and white will stand out on the surface of the sake, and if you are serving warm sake, the milky white glaze will be slightly cloudy, creating a soft glow like a snow-covered lantern.

A design that connects tradition and innovation

The classic material of straw white glaze has a history that is connected to Shino and Haikatsugi of the Momoyama period, but Nishihata Masayo incorporates protrusions and bold chamfering, giving a sculptural modernity to the microcosm of the sake cup. The technique of deliberately exposing the red clay is a contrast expression that is rare in conventional Tamba ware, clearly showing the intersection of tradition and innovation.

Resonance of Wabi-Sabi and Vitality

The milky white tranquility exudes a sense of wabi-sabi, while the exposed red soil symbolizes the vitality of the earth. The soil breathes in the white, reminiscent of a snowy surface, and the protrusions add a sense of dynamism, creating a dialogue between "stillness and movement" and "yin and yang" within a single cup. Whether used for a tea ceremony or as a quiet companion over an evening drink, this is a vessel that will accompany the user through their time, changing the scenery along with the taste of the sake.

A second view carved by time

The straw white glaze, which has fine crazing, slowly soaks up sake and moisture, changing from white to a pale gray-brown. The protrusions and chamfers acquire a glossy sheen with continued contact with the hands, and the red clay parts absorb sake and oil and take on a moist deep crimson. Over the years, the white of melting snow will change to the pale pink of a sunset, and the ink spots will fade to the softness of decaying leaves, storing up a story unique to the owner.

Nishibata Tadashi's "Straw White Glazed Sake Cup" is a small sculpture that embodies snow and earth, stillness and dynamism in the palm of your hand. Please treasure it for a long time and enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime moment as the scenery deepens the more you pour, savor, and use it.

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, New York, USA.
Solo Exhibition at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store in 2018

A conversation with Masashi Nishibata