Bamboo-Shaped Vase Sometsuke Ume Plum Blossom Painting | The first-generation head of the Shinemon Kiln [146184]

[size]
Width: 6.5cm / Height: 21cm
Width: 2.6in / Height: 8.3in

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This piece was created by the late Shinichiro Baba, the first-generation Shinemon and founder of the Shinemon Kiln?one of the most prominent and respected kilns representing Arita ware. The vase, shaped to resemble a bamboo tube, is boldly decorated with plum blossoms in sometsuke (blue-and-white underglaze). Crafted with refined Arita techniques, this vessel captures the natural form of bamboo and embodies essential elements of Japanese aesthetics such as tranquility, elegance, and wabi-sabi.

Today, the Shinemon Kiln is renowned as a leading master of the Y?hen technique, which involves skillfully manipulating glazes to create dramatic surface effects. However, this work was not created using Y?hen, but rather with sometsuke?because it was made by Shinichiro Baba himself, during his lifetime. His use of sometsuke, one of the fundamental techniques of Arita ware, reveals his mastery and artistic intent. Since *sometsuke* is rarely used in the present-day Shinemon Kiln, this piece is now considered exceptionally rare and valuable.

Its slender, bamboo-inspired form makes it ideal for use as a single-stem vase (*ichirin-zashi*). With refined craftsmanship, the poised shape of bamboo is elegantly captured, evoking a sense of stillness and vitality. When a single bloom is placed in the vase, the vessel and nature seem to merge, expressing the Japanese aesthetic of beauty in empty space (*yohaku*).

The decorative motif is the plum blossom (*ume*), a flower that blooms even in the cold of winter, symbolizing hope and new beginnings. Since ancient times, plum blossoms have been regarded as auspicious symbols, representing longevity, prosperity, and noble character. Their delicate yet dignified form resonates with the Japanese sense of transient beauty and evokes a quiet *wabi-sabi* atmosphere.

From a technical perspective, this piece was painted using the *sometsuke* method, where cobalt pigment is applied directly to the unglazed bisque before the glaze is applied. This technique allows for flowing, expressive brushwork and delicate nuance. However, because the absorbent surface does not permit corrections, each brushstroke must be executed with confidence and precision. It is a one-shot process requiring patience, focus, and a strong sense of composition?all of which are reflected in the completed work.


[Potter Profile]
Shinichiro Baba (deceased)

The first-generation head of the Shinemon Kiln
Member of Nitten / Full Member of the Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Association / Member of the Saga Prefecture Ceramic Association / Member of the Arita Ceramic Association


[Shinichiro Baba's career is as follows ]
Born in 1924 in Arita, Saga Prefecture
1972: Founded the Shinemon Kiln in Arita.
1979: Selected for the Prefecture Exhibition with "Hexagonal Celadon Bowl."
1981: Selected for the Nitten exhibition with "Oil Spot Tenmoku Large Bowl," subsequently selected 21 times.
1989: Appointed as an art exhibition judge.
2000: Exhibited "Saiun-99" and "Sai-99" at the British Museum in London (Saga Prefecture Ceramic Exhibition).
2004: Exhibited "Saikei" and "Saimon" at the Arita Pottery Exhibition in Germany.

[Main Awards]
1983: Won the First Place Bijutsu Kyokai Prize at the Bijutsu Kyokai Exhibition for "Cinnabar Flower Vase."
1986: Received the Grand Prize and the Contemporary Craft President's Prize at the Contemporary Crafts Kyushu Exhibition.
1996: Awarded the Contemporary Craft Prize at the Contemporary Craft Exhibition for "Akebono no Nagisa."
2000: Received the Full Member Prize at the Contemporary Craft Exhibition for "Rensaku・Sai."