One blue porcelain wheel Masao Tagai

Width: 12cm x 12cm Height: 14.6cm

This small vase is clad in a clear blue glaze reminiscent of the pale sky after rain. Its "tiered gourd-shaped" silhouette, with a plump body and three gently sloping steps on top, combines elegance with refinement, blending seamlessly into any alcove or modern living room. Tiny ice cracks and crazes lurk beneath the mirror-like glaze, creating a soft shadow when exposed to light, adding a three-dimensional effect. A thin layer of glaze is left uncovered on the rim, revealing a silver-gray iron rim that sharply tightens the pale blue world.

Glaze Design

The iron powder is suppressed, and after firing at a high temperature under reduction, the atmosphere is lightly switched to oxidation at the end of the firing process, resulting in a clear blue color with no reddish tint.

Control of micro-intrusion

By matching the expansion coefficient of the clay and the glaze layer and adjusting the cooling rate slowly, we create fine crazes that are difficult to see with the naked eye. Over many years of use, the flower water gradually seeps in, creating a hazy landscape.

Mirror finish

After firing, a low-temperature reduction fire is performed to slightly remelt the surface of the glaze and enhance the luster. As a result, the surrounding light and hanging scrolls are softly reflected, functioning as a "mirror that contains the scenery."

history

Gourd shapes have long been cherished as auspicious designs symbolizing good health and good fortune, and have frequently appeared in tea ceremony alcove decorations since the time of Rikyu and Enshu. Meanwhile, the stepped design is an extension of the playful spirit seen in early modern Kyoto ware, and can be seen as an attempt to breathe movement into the tranquil material of celadon. Using a clear blue base with its origins in the Longquan kilns of the Song dynasty, Tagai Masao combines the "emptiness of wabi" favored in the Japanese tea ceremony with "auspicious shapes," adding a light arrangement that shines in modern life.

Viewing

Rings of light reflected on the steps <br data-end="1429" data-start="1426">When lit by a lantern or spotlight, bands of light appear on each step, creating a rich variety of shades of blue.

A hazy landscape of subtle crazes <br data-end="1493" data-start="1490">Upon closer inspection, cracks resembling mica flakes emerge beneath the glaze, adding depth to the surface of the vessel.

Contrast between the iron rim and the base <br data-end="1556" data-start="1553">The black of the rim and foot contrasts nicely with the pale blue, adding a sophisticated touch reminiscent of classical official kilns.

"Seipin Ichirin" is a vessel of "tranquility and softness" that combines the auspicious gourd design with the clear celadon glaze. Simply inserting a single flower brings a breath of freshness to the space, and over time the subtle crazing will take on a hazy sheen, and a story will grow alongside the vessel. We hope you will enjoy using this celadon for many years to come, and layer your own seasonal scenery on it.