Blue porcelain tea bowl Masao Tagai

Width: 14.2cm x 14.2cm Height: 8.9cm

Celadon tea bowl - The poetry of "rain turns blue" hidden in the blue of the ice

Written by Masao Tagai

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1. Overview of the work

This piece is a celadon tea bowl with spider web-like "ice cracks and crackles" under a pale blue glaze that seems to contain air. A thick glaze is applied to the transparent base, and it is fired at a high temperature and then rapidly cooled, causing the difference in shrinkage between the glaze and the clay to produce the exquisite cracks. The lines that radiate outward from the inside give it movement and depth, like cracks on the surface of ice, and delicately reflect the light of the tea room the moment tea is poured. Iron is intentionally left on the rim to create a soft outline like an "iron brush," tightening the world of pale blue while at the same time conveying the intention that the wabi scenery will deepen the more it is used.

2. Technical background

Masao Tagai was born in Osaka in 1970. As a full member of the Japan Crafts Association, he has been selected and awarded in numerous public exhibitions, and has devoted himself to the study of thick-glazed celadon. He has been particularly praised for his inquisitive attitude of "controlling the color of the base and the thickness and texture of the glaze down to the micron level to bring out the ideal blue," and in his recent solo exhibitions he has attracted attention for his unique coloring, described as a "deep blue after the rain."

The blue of this piece is achieved by reducing the iron content and switching the reducing atmosphere during firing to a slightly oxidizing atmosphere towards the end, resulting in a clear sky blue with no reddish tinge. In addition, trace amounts of feldspar are blended into the clay to adjust the coefficient of expansion, intentionally creating a composition that is prone to ice cracking, resulting in uniform, fine cracks throughout the piece. Another notable feature is the "soaking" process, in which brownish colored water is boiled and soaked into the pot after cooling, highlighting the outlines of the cracks. This creates a visual effect in which the cracks appear to be floating in the air when the tea bowl is picked up.

3. Shape and design

The shallow bowl shape is reminiscent of Song dynasty official kiln-style "Eastern tea cups." The shallow curved surface at the base is nearly horizontal, preventing the chasen from bouncing off the bottom when mixing matcha, and allowing the soft foam to spread evenly. The foot is slightly tapered and carved low, giving the impression that the vessel is sitting quietly while enhancing the sense of unity with the palm. The pale pink "honte"-like coloring at the side of the foot is the result of iron segregation that occurred when the pot moved from reduction to oxidation, and is a homage to classical scenery.

4. Historical and cultural significance

Celadon is said to have originated in the Yuezhou kilns of the Six Dynasties and reached its peak in the Ru kilns, Guan kilns and Longquan kilns of the Northern Song Dynasty. Ru kiln celadon, famous for the verse "After the rain, the blue clouds are broken," evoked the romanticism of "sky blue after the rain" among Japanese tea masters, and became an object of reverence for Chinese tea utensils from the Muromachi period onwards. Mr. Tagai's works are based on respect for Song celadon, but embody "Japanese clarity" through modern material science and firing control. The method of actively designing crazing resonates with the "translation of wabi" that was given to celadon introduced in the Kamakura period when it was made into tea ware in Japan, and shows a high level of perfection as a reinterpretation of the classics.

5. Appearance at the tea ceremony

The pale blue glaze creates a jade-colored contrast with dark tea and a white foam with light tea. As the tea slowly seeps in through the cracks, a soft brown haze appears in the mesh after several dozen servings, deepening the charm of the bowl as a "tableware that grows with its user." When the bowl is passed around in front of guests, if light is shone on the intersection of the rusted iron on the rim and the cracks, a scene resembling streaks of clouds floating among the clouds in the evening glow emerges, creating a painting that quietly speaks of the host's taste.

6. Points to note when viewing

Depth of the glaze layers - When light passes through the glaze, the mille-feuille-like layered structure that is unique to thick glazes can be slightly observed, giving a sense of the depth of the color.

The rhythm of the ice cracks - the crack patterns, which are a balance between regularity and randomness, change appearance every time it is rotated in the palm of your hand, enriching the movements at the tea ceremony.

Changes in the iron rim - With use, the iron rim will acquire a lustrous sheen, and the contrast with the indigo blue will become even more striking, allowing you to enjoy the beauty of ageing.

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This work is a crystallization of Tagai Masao's firing techniques that he has cultivated over many years, and his poetic sentiment for the beautiful color blue. Starting from his admiration for Song Dynasty celadon, his maturity as an artist can be seen in the way he has modernized the "wabi (effortless simplicity)" sought by Japanese tea ceremony culture. It is this combination of practicality as a tea bowl and a beauty that deepens with time that makes a celadon tea bowl the flower of the tea ceremony. Please treasure it for many years to come, and enjoy the story that is unique to you as it emerges in the cracks.

A conversation with Masao Tagai – High-end pottery specialty store [Amagi-do]