Blue gourd vase Masao Tagai

Width: 14.5cm x 14.5cm Height: 18.8cm

The alluring color of this celadon vase is its "rainy blue" color, a pale light blue with a hint of gray. The silhouette created by the voluminous pear-shaped body and the slender, upright neck evokes the elegance of the classic Gyokko Shunpei vase, while also possessing a minimalist elegance that blends seamlessly into modern spaces. The mirror-smooth glaze is adorned with tiny "microcrazing" patterns that cast a pale shadow when exposed to light, adding a three-dimensional effect.

Glaze and Crazing

Color development : After suppressing iron powder and firing at high temperature under reduction, the atmosphere is lightly switched to an oxidizing atmosphere towards the end of the process (reduction removal), which brings out a clear blue color without any reddish tinge.

Minor cracks : By matching the expansion coefficients of the clay and glaze and slowly adjusting the cooling rate, we create cracks so minute they are difficult to see with the naked eye. As the piece is used, the floral water soaks in gently, deepening the hazy, cloud-like appearance.

Iron rim : Using the "kakegi" technique, the base is thinly shaved off only around the rim, leaving the glaze unapplied, and the iron is pulled to the surface during firing. This design gives a wabi (traditional Japanese aesthetic) outline to the pale blue world.

history

Celadon was passed down from the Yuezhou kilns of the Six Dynasties to the Ru kilns of the Northern Song and the Longquan kilns of the Southern Song, and was brought to Japan by Zen monks during the Kamakura period. It was prized as "Tang ware" in the Momoyama tea ceremony, and attempts to replicate it were made in Kyoto and Hizen during the mid-Edo period. This work uses modern techniques to recreate the pale blue reminiscent of the "baishisei" (plum blossom blue) of the Longquan kiln, while the iron rim and subtle crazing add a nuance of the wabi (traditional Japanese aesthetic) so highly valued in the Japanese tea ceremony. It could be said that Tagai's signature style lies in his fusion of respect for the classics with modern design.

Viewing

Depth of the glaze layer <br data-end="1661" data-start="1658">When slanting light is shone on it, the milky layer can be seen from the inside, giving the impression of depth, like looking into the deep sea.

A hazy landscape with subtle crazes <br data-end="1726" data-start="1723">With repeated use, slight tea stains appear in the cracks, and a scene resembling floating clouds appears on the surface of the vessel.

Changes in the iron rim <br data-end="1791" data-start="1788">The silver-gray rim has a black luster to the touch, and combined with the pale blue, it tightens the appearance of the vessel.

This celadon vase is a masterpiece, built on the poetic sentiment of classical Ryusen celadon, refined with modern materials science and firing techniques. Simply inserting a single branch will evoke a sense of fresh serenity in your alcove, and over time, the subtle crazes will become hazy, carving out a landscape that grows alongside the user. We hope you will engage in dialogue with the flowers of the seasons and create your own unique story with this celadon.

A conversation with Masao Tagai