Blue porcelain incense burner Masao Tagai

Width: 15.7cm x 15.7cm Height: 11.5cm

This celadon incense burner is clad in a clear blue glaze reminiscent of the sky after rain, and features a striking three-tiered undulating shoulder design. Based on a gourd-shaped design with a plump body, the steps at the neck create rhythmic shadows, visually enhancing the scene of rising incense smoke. Beneath the mirror-like surface of the glaze are tiny ice cracks and crazes, which, when exposed to light, create a faint haze, adding depth to the vessel's surface. A thin layer of glaze remains on the rim, and the iron gives it a silver-gray color, creating a refined accent that tightens the pale blue world.

Glaze and firing techniques

Rain turns blue
The iron powder is suppressed, and the piece is fired at a high temperature under reduction, followed by a slight change to an oxidizing atmosphere towards the end, in a "reduction-off" process. This results in a clear blue color that eliminates any reddish tinge, and the creation of an opaque layer inside gives the color a depth.

Controlling Ice Cracking and Crazing <br data-end="801" data-start="798">By roughly matching the expansion coefficients of the clay and glaze, and slowly adjusting the cooling rate, fine cracks are created. With repeated use, incense oils and soot soak in slightly, creating a hazy, cloud-like appearance.

Mirror Finish <br data-end="909" data-start="906">After firing, a low-temperature reduction fire is performed to lightly re-melt the surface of the glaze, enhancing the luster and softly reflecting the surrounding light and hanging items.

Design intent as an incense burner

Incense burners are used not only in the tea ceremony but also at Zen temple ceremonies and incense-listening sessions, bringing a sense of purity and serenity to a space. In this piece, the volume of the body gently circulates heat, steadily diffusing the scent of incense wood. The stepped neck visualizes the rising smoke and emphasizes the flickering incense clouds. The iron rim and exposed base reduce temperature differences caused by the heat of the charcoal fire and prevent cracking or distortion. Furthermore, the gourd shape has long been considered an auspicious design that brings good health and good fortune, bringing tranquility and good fortune to any space where incense is burned.

history

The roots of the celadon incense burner can be traced back to the Longquan and Ru kilns of the Northern Song Dynasty in China, and it was introduced to Japan via Zen monks in the Kamakura period. During the Muromachi period, it was prized as a Chinese incense burner, and tea masters of the Momoyama period regarded its crazing and iron rim as a symbol of wabi (traditional Japanese aesthetic), cherishing the incense burner as "a vessel that cultivates a landscape." While taking this historical background into consideration, Tagai Masao has reinterpreted it with a light, stepped design that is modern, elevating it into a form that will look great not only in a tea room but also in a modern living room.

Viewing

Rings of light reflected on the steps <br data-end="1497" data-start="1494">When lanterns or spotlights are shone on the steps, bands of light are created on each step, which, combined with the flickering incense smoke, create a fantastical rhythm.

A hazy landscape of subtle crazes <br data-end="1575" data-start="1572">When you focus closer, you can see mica-like cracks peeking out from under the glaze, and the more you use it, the paler the yellow it takes on, deepening its appearance.

Iron rim and foot base <br data-end="1651" data-start="1648">The black of the rim and base contrasts with the pale blue, creating a sophisticated look reminiscent of the iron rim and iron feet of classical official kilns.

Masao Tagai's celadon incense burner is a "vessel for clarity of mind" that combines a gourd design, which embodies auspiciousness, with the tranquility of a blue sky after rain. Simply burning a single piece of incense wood will fill the space with a fresh fragrance and a sense of peace, and as the ice cracks and crazes grow over time, the vessel itself will become a partner that marks the passage of time. We hope that you will use it for many years to come and entrust this celadon incense burner with the quiet moments that flow with the scent.