Coffee Cup and Saucer Yoh | Kusuo Baba's work in Shinemon Kiln [146192]

[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 the work of Ky?suo Baba, the second-generation master of the Shinemon Kiln?one of the most distinguished and innovative kilns representing Arita ware.
The glaze used on this piece is titled *Y?* (“Fusion”), featuring a mysterious and dramatic contrast between deep black and glowing red. It captures a unique radiance that seems to contain the energy of creation itself.

The Shinemon Kiln is a leading authority on the *Y?hen* technique, in which glazes undergo transformative changes within the kiln. These changes, guided by fire, craftsmanship, and chance, produce effects that are as unpredictable as they are beautiful. The *Y?* glaze embodies this philosophy, blending subtle variations in color, tone, and gloss to evoke a dynamic array of kiln-formed expressions.

In *Y?*, Baba channels powerful symbolism: the deep crimson, reminiscent of molten earth at the birth of the planet, carries an elemental intensity. It is a shade only achieved through firing at 1300°C and only reveals its brilliance in pieces that withstand the intense heat?expressed here through the rare and luminous *shinsya* (cinnabar) glaze. Revered since ancient times, this "jewel-like red" was once coveted by rulers and aesthetes alike.

In contrast, the black *tenmoku* glaze in the background envelops the red in silence, absorbing light like the vast cosmos. This juxtaposition evokes a star burning in the darkness of space?a powerful and singular presence. No two pieces are alike, each one shaped by the miracle of chance within the kiln.
The red of *Y?* has long been believed to be a color of protection, a mysterious hue that safeguards its holder. This radiant vessel not only graces celebratory occasions with elegance but also carries the quiet strength to illuminate its owner’s future. It is a functional artwork?a crystallization of Shinemon Kiln’s passion, philosophy, and the serendipitous beauty born from flame.

Created by an artist who draws forth the full expressive potential of glaze, this refined cup and saucer reveals a new and singular landscape every time it is held. Take your time to savor both your coffee and the ever-changing expression of the vessel?it transforms each moment into something extraordinary.


[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."