Ash-glazed tea bowl by Yuichi Ikai

Width: 15.8cm Height: 7.5cm

The beauty of ash glaze, a tradition that has continued since ancient times

The "Ash Glazed Tea Bowl" inherits the tradition of ash-glazed pottery created at Sanage Kiln in the first half of the 9th century while bringing about a modern aesthetic. Ash glaze is a glaze made from plant ashes, and has been one of the most fundamental glazes in Japanese pottery from ancient times to the Middle Ages, early modern times, and the present day. This piece incorporates the refined aesthetic sensibility of Kyoto and skillfully blends tradition with modernity.

A combination of durability and decorativeness

The appeal of ash-glazed tea bowls lies in the durability and decorative effect of the glaze applied to their surface. Glazes play an important role in protecting the surface of the pottery while giving it beautiful color and texture. The use of ash glaze in Ikai's works brings a rich decorative effect to the pottery, like the glazed bricks of ancient Mesopotamia and the glazed tiles of Islamic cultures, leaving a deep impression on the viewer.

A fusion of classic and fresh

The most noteworthy aspect of this piece is how it expresses a classical subject with a modern freshness . While maintaining the antique style unique to tea pottery, it exudes a fresh beauty that never ages, and its presence gives the impression of eternal newness that continues to shine through the ages. In particular, Ikai's "Ash-glazed Tea Bowl" beautifully expresses a unique texture and beauty by making full use of glazing techniques that have been handed down throughout history.

A new breath of "ash glaze" in modern tea ware

In these "ash-glazed tea bowls," he has sublimated the traditional techniques passed down since ancient times into modern tea pottery, pursuing newness that never goes out of style . His works combine the deep spirituality of tea pottery with timeless beauty, and the balance of their shapes and colors has the power to overwhelm the viewer.