Straw ash glaze gold dust bag water jar by Kosai Miyagawa

Height: 13.5cm Width: 18.0cm

The "Straw Ash Glazed Gold Dust Bag Water Jar by Miyagawa Kosai" is a work that beautifully blends tradition and modernity, blending seamlessly into the beautiful space of a Japanese-style room while also shining an elegant glow in modern interiors. This water jar is not limited to its intended use and has a wide range of uses, and while it is practical, it also has value as a work of art.

The symbolism of the gold dust bag pattern

The "gold dust bag" depicted in the work is known as an auspicious motif that brings good fortune, and symbolizes a drawstring bag used to store treasures and spices. Gold dust bags are also called "kinbukuro" (gold pouches), and are imbued with the wish to be blessed with wealth and fortune. Since ancient times, drawstring bags have been believed to bring good fortune to their owners, and applying this motif to tea ceremony utensils and crafts has been thought to have the power to attract good fortune into everyday life.

The techniques and appeal of straw ash glaze

"Straw ash glaze" is a traditional technique essential to the creations of the Miyagawa Kosai family, and is one of the most important glazes that has been passed down through generations of the Miyagawa Kosai family. Straw ash glaze is made from ash obtained by burning straw, and is characterized by a soft, bluish, warm finish. This glaze gives the vessel a soft, milky white luster and creates a plump, elegant texture. This unique texture is particularly highly valued in Makuzu ware, and is what sets it apart from other Kyoto ware glazes.

The distinctive color of straw ash glaze changes subtly depending on the clay used and firing conditions. Sometimes it exhibits a warm reddish hue, and other times it has a cool bluish-white hue, and these hues give the piece a rich expression. The straw ash glaze technique is said to have been used by Nonomura Ninsei, the founder of Kyoto ware, but the Miyagawa Kosai family further refined the technique and developed it into a unique style that has become synonymous with Makuzu ware.

The history and influence of Kenzan copies

"Kenzan copies" are works that replicate the style of Ogata Kenzan, a master of Kyoto ware active during the Edo period. Kenzan, along with his brother Ogata Korin, incorporated the gorgeous patterns of the Rinpa school into Kyoto ware, and are known for their particularly bold and free style. The worldview that Kenzan created, harmonizing refined designs that eliminate waste with skillful use of color, has become widely loved around the world. Influenced by his brother Korin, Kenzan incorporated gorgeous yet simple designs into Kyoto ware, and plum blossom patterns in particular became an important motif in Kenzan's works.

This "Kenzan copy" technique, along with the "Ninsei copy" technique that imitates the style of Nonomura Ninsei, holds an important place in the Miyagawa Kosai family. Kenzan's style played an important role in the history of Kyoto ware, and its influence was passed on to famous ceramic artists such as Eiraku Zengoro and Miura Chikusen. Kenzan copies are not mere imitations; they inherit Kenzan's techniques while incorporating new creativity that is in tune with modern sensibilities, which is one of the attractions of Kenzan ware.

The history and influence of the Miyagawa Kosai family

The Miyagawa Kosai family is a prestigious Kyoto ware family that has been around since the early Edo period, with a history spanning approximately 330 years. The family's origins date back to when the first head, Yukan, moved from Omi Province (present-day Shiga Prefecture) to Kyoto and began a pottery business in front of Chion-in Temple. The Miyagawa family subsequently became known for its "Makuzu ware" among Kyoto ware, setting up a kiln in Makuzugahara, Higashiyama, and developing its own unique techniques.

Now in its seventh generation, the Miyagawa Kosai family has earned acclaim both in Japan and abroad. Miyagawa Kosai's ceramics are particularly well-known worldwide, with pieces housed in numerous international art museums and cultural institutions, including the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Permanent Mission of Japan to UNESCO in Paris. This piece preserves the traditions and techniques of Kyoto ware while blending seamlessly with contemporary interiors and lifestyles. The auspicious gold dust bag design and the soft texture of the straw ash glaze are highly valued as a work of art that adds color to everyday life, with the hope of bringing wealth and good fortune to the user. This water jar is the culmination of the Miyagawa Kosai family's long history and craftsmanship, and its presence transcends the boundaries of tea ceremony and interior design, enriching everyday life.

A conversation with Miyagawa Kosai