Coffee Cup and Saucer Kirameki | Kusuo Baba's work in Shinemon Kiln [146122]

[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 coffee cup and saucer set is a work by Ky?suo Baba, the second-generation master of the Shinemon Kiln?one of the most renowned kilns representing Arita ware.
The piece features a glaze called *Kirameki* (“Radiance”), applied over a rich golden-brown base. The glaze expresses a brilliance reminiscent of sunlight, radiating warmth and vitality.

The Shinemon Kiln is widely recognized as a leading authority on the *Y?hen* technique?a method that involves subtle, natural transformations in glaze color and pattern during firing. These changes, guided by both technique and the unpredictable nature of the kiln, create unique and often mystical surface expressions. In this piece, the *Kirameki* glaze showcases a range of nuanced tones, gloss variations, and delicate crystallizations that shimmer like scattered rays of light.

Created by an artist who masterfully draws out the full expressive potential of glaze, this refined coffee cup and saucer reveals a new landscape each time it is held. The moment of enjoying a cup of coffee becomes something more?an intimate encounter with the quiet radiance of handcrafted beauty. Take your time and savor both the aroma of the coffee and the shimmering presence of the vessel itself.


[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."