Tanba Natural Glaze Ware by Tadashi Nishibata

Width: 24.5cm Depth: 13.6cm Height: 13.0cm

Introduction

Nishihata Tadashi's Tanba Natural Glaze Ware is a perfect blend of the traditions of Tanba Tachikui ware and the beauty of nature. The beauty seen in his works is highlighted by their smooth and universal shapes, like magatama, and they are somehow mystical yet natural. Nishihata Tadashi places great importance on bringing out the natural texture of the material in his ceramic designs, and he is particularly focused on creating pottery using "natural glaze" without the use of glazes.

The tradition of Tamba Tachikui ware

Tamba Tachikui ware is a traditional Japanese ceramics that has been produced in Tamba Sasayama, Hyogo Prefecture for over 800 years, and is counted among the Six Ancient Kilns. This region has a tradition of pottery that dates back to the end of the Momoyama period, and was also known as "Onohara ware" in the past. Initially, large vessels fired in anagama kilns were the norm, and many simple pottery pieces were made using natural soil and glazes. After the Edo period, Korean-style climbing kilns were introduced, which made it possible to fire many vessels evenly at once, stimulating the unique development of Tamba ware. From this period, unique kiln changes that make use of natural glazes and the iron content of the soil began to be seen, and their colors and patterns have been passed down to this day as the characteristics of Tamba ware.

Natural glaze by Masashi Nishibata

Among Nishibata Tadashi's works, pottery using "natural glaze" is particularly impressive. Natural glaze is a technique in which pine and straw ash naturally accumulates on the vessel during firing, and a glaze is formed through a chemical reaction with the flame. When using this technique, deep greens, ochre, and unique patterns are naturally created, and since no two pieces are the same, each piece is unique and beautiful. Nishibata's Tamba natural glaze ware values ​​the randomness of this natural glaze, while also paying attention to the beauty of the shape and the balance of the vessel as a whole. The pieces have a simple yet profound beauty that is somehow reminiscent of the shapes of stones and trees found in nature. Nishibata's works are characterized by their graceful curves like those of a magatama, and the feel and weight of the pieces when held fit comfortably in the hand.

The contemporary significance of Tamba Tachikui ware

Tamba Tachikui ware, with its traditional techniques, continues to be loved as everyday tableware even today. It is simple yet has a deep flavor, and the color and pattern of the tableware changes the more it is used, so it is valued as a practical item that can be used for a long time. Nishibata Tadashi's works also follow the traditions of Tamba ware while incorporating new sensibilities, and while they blend into modern lifestyles, they are also highly valued for their artistic value.

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