Coffee Cup and Saucer Oboro-sakura | Kusuo Baba's work in Shinemon Kiln [146179]

[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, second-generation master of the Shinemon Kiln?one of the most esteemed kilns representing Arita ware.

The piece is glazed with *Oborozakura* (“Hazy Cherry Blossoms”), a poetic and refined glaze that captures the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms and preserves their memory in shimmering crystalline form. Delicate and ethereal, it reflects the essence of spring’s gentle transience.

The Shinemon Kiln is renowned for its mastery of the *Y?hen* technique, in which glazes undergo natural transformations in the kiln?revealing unexpected patterns, colors, and textures that embody the mystery and elegance of nature. The *Oborozakura* glaze was born from a miraculous intersection of flame, time-honored technique, and a craftsman’s momentary intuition. Its soft, pale hue changes with the angle of light, much like cherry blossoms blooming in a dreamlike spring night.

When filled with the deep hue of coffee, the pale pink crystalline patterns seem to float like *hanaikada*?petal rafts drifting across water?creating a scene of quiet enchantment. This piece is meant to engage all five senses: admire its beauty with your eyes, feel its texture with your hands, and let the taste of your coffee complete the experience. *Oborozakura* offers a moment of calm and contentment, reminding us that life is enriched through the accumulation of such quiet, soul-filling moments.

Crafted by an artist who draws out the expressive potential of glaze with great sensitivity, this coffee cup and saucer reveals a new landscape with every use. Take your time and enjoy the ever-changing expression of this piece as you sip your coffee?a vessel that transforms every moment into something truly special.


[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."