Striped black glaze tea bowl by Ogawa Bunsai

Width: 14.0cm x 14.0cm Height: 6.0cm

The lingering echoes of lines floating in the darkness - Striated black glazed tea bowl by Ogawa Bunsai VI (Kyo)

This tea bowl, reminiscent of jet black darkness, is a "Striated Black Glaze Tea Bowl" by Ogawa Bunsai (Ko) VI. At first glance, it appears to be enveloped in a world of tranquil black, but upon closer inspection, the body is decorated with gentle, undulating stripes, and the subtle flow of green and red glaze above it emerges like ink lines floating in the dark night.

It is not just black, but a coexistence of visual depth and spiritual profundity, powerfully imbuing the infinite possibilities hidden in the material known as black glaze and the innovative spirit of Bunzaigama.

Serene Black - The Color of Repose and Concentration

In Japanese pottery, black glaze is both the "color of silence" and the "color of the spirit." This nearly achromatic color rejects unnecessary decoration and has the power to draw the viewer's gaze back to the shape and texture of the vessel itself.

This tea bowl also has a deep, lustrous glaze, covering the entire piece in a captivating black. However, this black is not "empty." When exposed to a little light, the gentle wheel marks and unevenness in the glaze reveal subtle expressions, giving it a dynamic texture like clouds floating in the night sky.

The rhythm of the linear pattern and the dance of the glaze

The body of the vessel is handcrafted with gentle linear patterns. These lines are not merely decorative; they are a design consideration intended to change the feel of the vessel when touched by the fingertips, imprinting a deep tactile memory. The unevenness of these lines changes the shade of the black glaze, creating a lingering impression reminiscent of ink brushstrokes.

Furthermore, the glaze that flows by chance during firing appears on the lines, and subtle shades of green and red appear to bleed. This "unpredictable beauty" is the true expression of pottery, and is also a testament to Bunsai's skill in capturing a variety of expressions within the constraints of black.

A sleek form and a white base

The design is very stable, with a wide mouth and low center of gravity, making it easy to hold and giving a sense of security. The contours are linear yet soft, giving the whole thing a sense of quiet tension.

Of particular note is the exposed white clay on the base. This white acts as the only "opening" in the black glaze that covers the entire vessel, creating an effect that seems to symbolize the signs of the light just before dawn. The contrast between black and white, yin and yang, gives the vessel a clear order and a poetic resonance.

The Ideas Contained in Black - Ogawa Bunsai's Quest

In contrast to the red of his father and fifth generation, Ogawa Bunsai (Ko) the sixth generation has chosen green, blue, and black as the subject matter of his own work. His attitude of prioritizing harmony and contemplation over conflict and assertion resonates deeply with the power of "acceptance" that the color black possesses.

This tea bowl, too, does not compete for splendor or skill, but rather beautifully fulfills its role as a vessel that clarifies the mind through the emptiness of its black color.It has a "core" that can only be found in works that are endlessly quiet, yet have a definite presence.

What the vessel of silence says

This tea bowl, placed in a tea room, draws the surrounding atmosphere in more than any other tea utensil. The magnetic force of the black color and the subtle expressions created by the linear pattern and the fluctuations of the glaze draw the viewer's gaze intently, and a "silent dialogue" begins.

The intensity of the light, the green of the tea, the stillness of the space - all of these elements resonate with this vessel, creating the momentary "ma" (pause) of the tea ceremony.

Black Embracing the Empty Space of Existence - Eternal and Unfinished Beauty

The "Striated Black Glazed Tea Bowl" is the polar opposite of overly perfected beauty. Within its black hues lie an infinite number of expressions, and each time you look at it or use it, you will discover something new.

This is exactly the kind of beauty that the sixth generation Ogawa Bunsai pursued: "Praying for peace and praising tranquility."The ideal form of vessel that is unobtrusive, unobtrusive, and simply there is embodied here.

Please experience this deep black world for yourself.
There is truly a "poetry of silence" that transcends words alive there.