Coffee Cup and Saucer Seiin | Kusuo Baba's work in Shinemon Kiln [146194]

[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 head of the Shinemon Kiln?one of the most esteemed kilns representing Arita ware.
The glaze used is titled *Sei-in* (“Blue Resonance”), evoking the imagery of a silent universe held in the palm of your hand. It expresses a one-of-a-kind coffee experience through the depth and tranquility of blue.

The Shinemon Kiln is known as a leading authority in the *Y?hen* technique, in which glazes undergo spontaneous transformation during firing. This natural phenomenon reveals the beauty and mystery created by fire, heat, humidity, and countless other variables. The *Sei-in* glaze is a product of such miraculous interplay?featuring a deep, clear blue that only emerges in fleeting, perfect conditions.

Is it the color of the sky just before dawn? Or the silence of the deep sea? Cobalt blue flows over a jet-black base of *tenmoku* glaze, creating a landscape that is never the same twice. This ethereal blue scene is the crystallization of *ichigo ichie*?a once-in-a-lifetime encounter?achieved by Ky?suo Baba, a Nitten-exhibiting artist who elevates chance into art through his dialogue with clay, glaze, and flame. Let your eyes rest on the serene blue tones captured in *Sei-in* and sense the quiet resonance it carries.

Crafted by a master who skillfully draws out the full range of glaze expression, this refined coffee cup and saucer reveals new scenery each time it is held. More than just a vessel, it transforms your coffee moments into something deeply special. Savor the evolving expressions of the piece as you enjoy your drink.


[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."