Coffee Cup and Saucer Yume | Kusuo Baba's work in Shinemon Kiln [146121]

[Cup size]
Length: 10.8cm / Width: 8.5cm / Height: 7.4cm
Length: 4.3in / Width: 3.3in / Height: 2.9in

[Saucer size]
Width: 15.3cm
Width: 6in

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This work is by Kusuo Baba, the second-generation head of the Shinemon Kiln?one of the most esteemed kilns representing Arita ware.The piece features a glaze titled *Yume* (“Dream”), which layers deep reddish tones over a dark brown-black base, symbolizing both passion and hope.

The Shinemon Kiln is a leading authority on the *Y?hen* technique?a method that skillfully draws out natural variations in glaze during firing. The current head of the kiln, Ky?suo Baba, is known for mastering this technique. *Y?hen* refers to the dynamic changes in color, pattern, and surface texture that occur in the kiln, revealing a beauty that is at once natural and mysterious.

The *Yume* glaze used in this piece explores subtle gradations of tone, gloss, and texture, resulting in a rich and varied surface that captures multiple expressions in a single piece. The coffee cup and saucer set is elegant in form and alive with complexity?each time you hold it, a new landscape appears.
Enjoy a quiet moment with a cup of coffee, and take the time to appreciate the shifting beauty of the glaze?a truly special experience shaped by the hands of a master.


[Potter Profile]
Kusuo Baba
(The second-generation head of the Shinemon Kiln)
Member of Nitten / Councilor of the Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Association / Vice President of the Saga Prefecture Ceramic Association / Director of the Saga Art Association

I create works that inherit the tradition of Arita ware while aligning with contemporary sensibilities. I specialize in the Yohen technique, which skillfully manipulates glazes, adding an element of serendipity to each piece as it reaches completion, thereby expressing a mystical beauty.

[Kusuo Baba's career is as follows ]
Born in 1952
1976: Joined the Saga Prefecture Ceramic Research Institute, where he learned the basics of ceramics and began researching glazes.
1980: Joined Maemon Kiln and began creating pottery, continuing his research on glazes to this day.
1981: Received strong guidance from Ryuzan Aoki, a recipient of the Order of Culture.
1997: Selected for the Nitten exhibition for "Kyoku Ei." Subsequently, he has been selected 20 times.
2004: Exhibited "Haruka wo Nozomu" and "Umibe no Uta" at the Arita Pottery Exhibition in Germany.
2010: Held the "Encountering Colors at Ogurayama" exhibition at Jojakkoji Temple in Kyoto.
2014: Appointed as a judge for the 53rd Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition.
2021: Elected as a councilor of the Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Association.

[Main Awards]
1997: Selected for the Nitten exhibition for "Kyoku Ei."
2000: Awarded the Grand Prize and the 50th Anniversary Special Prize at the Saga Prefecture Exhibition for "Haruka na Sazanami."
2003: Received the Ryuzan Aoki Prize at the 100th Anniversary Kyushu Yamaguchi Ceramic Exhibition for "Umibe no Uta."
2005: Received the Contemporary Craft Award at the Contemporary Craft Exhibition for "Reimei-05."
2008: Received the Contemporary Craft Full Member Award at the Contemporary Craft Exhibition for "Kyoku-08(1)."
2011: Received the Director's Award at the 50th Anniversary Japan Contemporary Arts and Crafts Exhibition for "Sazanami no Uta."
2012: Won the Special Prize at the Nitten exhibition for "Haruka na Mine."
2012: Received the Grand Prize and the Ryuzan Aoki Prize at the Contemporary Crafts Kyushu Exhibition for "Sankei."