Vase Sometsuke Sansui Landscape | The first-generation head of the Shinemon Kiln [146185]

[size]
Width: 15.5cm / Height: 18.3cm
Width: 6.1in / Height: 7.2in

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This piece is by the late Shinichiro Baba, the founding master of Shinemon Kiln, one of the most respected kilns in Arita ware. It is a compact vase featuring a bold *sometsuke* (underglaze blue) painting of a traditional *sansui* (landscape) scene. Its moderate size makes it a perfect vessel to represent the essence of Japanese aesthetics?serenity, refinement, and the wabi-sabi spirit.

Today, Shinemon Kiln is widely known for pioneering the sophisticated glaze technique known as *y?hen* (kiln-transmutation). However, this particular piece does not use *y?hen*; it was created using *sometsuke* by the kiln’s founder himself during his career. *Sometsuke* is one of the foundational decorative techniques in Arita ware, and this work reveals Baba’s dedication to expressing his craftsmanship through classic methods. As *sometsuke* is rarely produced at Shinemon Kiln today, this piece holds great rarity and historical value.

The vase has a subtly narrowing rim and an elegant silhouette that beautifully complements a single flower. Its unassuming presence allows the flower to shine while embodying a refined aesthetic. It exudes calmness and tranquility, adding a touch of elegance to any Japanese-style interior. When paired with a simple blossom, it offers a quiet harmony between nature and vessel, celebrating the beauty of empty space.

The *sansui* motif?mountains, rivers, lakes, trees, and rocks?emphasizes the grandeur of nature, with human elements, if present, depicted on a much smaller scale. Rooted in Daoism, Confucianism, and Zen Buddhism, *sansui* art reflects a philosophy that reveres nature and seeks harmony with it. It expresses spiritual introspection through natural landscapes. This subject is a staple of traditional East Asian art and often appears in ink scrolls and classical paintings as well.

From a technical standpoint, the *sometsuke* method used here involves painting directly onto the bisque-fired surface before glazing. This technique allows for delicate brushwork and expressive line quality, ideal for rendering intricate landscape scenes. Because the absorbent surface of bisque leaves no room for correction, every brushstroke must be decisive and masterful. This piece is a testament to perseverance, focus, and compositional strength?qualities that culminate in a truly exceptional work of art.



[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."