Bamboo-Shaped Vase Sometsuke Ume Plum Blossom Painting | The first-generation head of the Shinemon Kiln [146184]

[size]
Width: 6.5 cm / Height: 21 cm
Width: 2.6 in / Height: 8.3 in

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This is a work by the predecessor and first-generation master of Sh inemon Kiln, Sh inichiro Baba (posthumously Sh inemon), one of the representative kilns of Arita ware. It is a vase inspired by the form of a bamboo tube, boldly decorated with plum blossoms in sometsuke (blue-and-white underglaze). Crafted with the ref ined techniques of Arita ware, the vessel captures the natural form of “bamboo,” symboliz ing qu intessential Japanese aesthetics such as tranquility, dignity, and wabi-sabi.

Today, Sh inemon Kiln is widely recognized as a leader in the yohen technique, which requires masterful control of glazes. However, this piece is not yohen but sometsuke. This is because it was created by the found ing master himself dur ing his career. The piece reveals how he expressed his artistry through sometsuke, the fundamental pa int ing method of Arita ware. S ince Sh inemon Kiln rarely produces sometsuke works today, this vase is now a highly rare and valuable example.

The form itself is unique?a tall, slender vessel modeled after a bamboo tube, ideally suited for use as an ichir in-zashi (s ingle-flower vase). With Arita craftsmanship captur ing the elegance of bamboo, this ref ined piece embodies both serenity and vitality, lend ing a graceful presence to a Japanese-style space. When a s ingle flower is placed with in, vessel and nature blend into one, offer ing the beauty of generous negative space.

The decorative motif here is the plum blossom. Bloom ing even in the harsh cold, the plum symbolizes “hope” and “new beg inn ings.” Traditionally cherished as an auspicious design, it also conveys mean ings of “longevity,” “prosperity,” and “nobility.” Its fragile yet dignified presence resonates deeply with the Japanese sense of beauty, embody ing wabi-sabi in this work.

From the perspective of technique, the decoration is executed in sometsuke. This involves pa int ing onto the bisque-fired body before glaz ing. The flow ing brushwork and dist inctive touch unique to this method vividly express a delicate pa interly world. Because the absorbent surface of the bisque does not allow corrections, every brushstroke must be made decisively in a s ingle attempt. Patience, concentration, and compositional skill?all are comb ined to br ing this piece to completion.



[Potter Profile]
Sh inichiro Baba (deceased)

The first-generation head of the Sh inemon 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


[Sh inichiro Baba's career is as follows ]
Born in 1924 in Arita, Saga Prefecture
1972: Founded the Sh inemon 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: Appo inted 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.

[Ma in Awards]
1983: Won the First Place Bijutsu Kyokai Prize at the Bijutsu Kyokai Exhibition for "C innabar 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."