Six Old Kilns Tanba Natural Glazed Tea Bowl by Nishihata Tadashi

Width: 14.0cm Depth: 13.2cm Height: 10.4cm

Introduction

The Tanba Shizen-yu tea bowl by Nishibata Tadashi is a masterpiece that perfectly harmonizes the tradition of Tanba ware with the power of nature. The most notable features of this tea bowl are its powerful "split base" and the beauty of the natural glaze. When you look at the base in particular, you can see that it goes beyond being a merely practical element and has a design significance that enhances the beauty of the overall shape of the tea bowl.

The appeal of a higher ground

The split pedestal gives this tea bowl a unique impact. The pedestal of a tea bowl does not simply support the bowl, but is an important element that determines the balance of the entire bowl. The split pedestal is particularly characterized by a notch cut into one part of the pedestal, which is not only visually impressive but also practical. It is said that this "split pedestal" exists for practical reasons, such as to maintain stability when the bowls are stacked and to ensure that the heat is distributed evenly during firing. It is also said that the tradition of cutting into the pedestal, as in Hagi ware, was passed down from a technique used during the Joseon Dynasty in Korea.

Design and function of the split platform

The design of the split pedestal is not just a design, but also serves to improve the functionality of the vessel as a whole. There are various reasons for split pedestals, such as to prevent the bowls from slipping when stacked and carried, to prevent steam from building up, and to ensure that the glaze on the pedestal is evenly distributed. Furthermore, such designs are sometimes used from an aesthetic point of view, where a slit is considered to have more elegance than a perfect circle.

Furthermore, the artistic quality of the design of the foot greatly influences the overall impression of the bowl. When you look at the base of a tea bowl, the aesthetic sense and technique of the maker are strongly felt, and it is in the details of the foot that the potter's attention to detail is embodied. In particular, the technique of "exposing the earth", in which no glaze is applied, is often used, and the foot can be said to be the place where the potter's technique and aesthetic sense are concentrated.

Complex and beautiful natural glaze

Another feature of Nishibata Tadashi's Tanba Shizenyu tea bowls is their rich natural glaze. The natural glaze that occurs by chance during firing has a deep green color reminiscent of moss or rusted copper, and subtle hues and patterns spread intricately across the surface of the tea bowl. This natural glaze gives each tea bowl a unique look, creating a beauty that is like an abstract painting by nature.

In particular, the contrast between the glazed and unglazed areas of the Tanba Natural Glaze Tea Bowl gives the bowl a sense of depth and dimension. Over time, the color of the glaze changes and more complex expressions emerge, so you will discover new charms the more you use it.

Harmony with nature and the spirit of Zen

The deep green of the Tanba Shizenyu tea bowl evokes the serenity and harmony of the natural world. This color is reminiscent of parts of nature, such as moss-covered stones and old trees wet with rain, and offers the viewer peace of mind and a moment of contemplation. This tea bowl, which gives a sense of the transitions of nature, embodies the spirit of the tea ceremony, "ichigo ichie," and will make your tea time even more profound.

The complex patterns of the natural glaze on this tea bowl also reflect the Zen view of impermanence. This beauty, born from entrusting oneself to nature without striving for perfection, is something that is connected to the spirit of Zen and is an element that is especially highly valued in the world of tea ceremony. The natural glaze, which shows a different expression every time the tea bowl is picked up, always brings new discoveries and deepens the relationship with the user.

Craftsmanship and artistry

Tanba natural glaze tea bowls require the skilled techniques of potters to bring out the power of nature to the fullest. Nishibata's works are crafted with exquisite detail, and you can see his thorough attention to detail in everything from the application of the glaze to the firing process. In particular, to bring out the beauty of the natural glaze to the fullest, skilled techniques are required, such as the position of the vessel in the kiln and temperature control.

Lasting Value

The more you use the Tanba Shizen-Yu tea bowl, the more its texture improves, and the more you will grow to love it. By using the tea bowl for a long time, you can enjoy the changes in the glaze and the texture, and it will become a treasure that you can use for a lifetime. This tea bowl, which brings together the traditions of Tanba ware and the techniques of Nishibata Masayoshi, is a truly enduring work of art that will retain its beauty and value over time. This Tanba Shizen-Yu tea bowl is a masterpiece woven together by nature and human skill, and will make your tea ceremony moments even more special.

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