Cherry Blossoms on a Tea Bowl by Dohachi Takahashi

Width: 11.3cm Height: 7.79cm

This work, with its pale off-white background dotted with white dots reminiscent of a snowstorm of cherry blossom petals and its trunks and young branches painted with simple brushstrokes, exudes a carefree atmosphere as if it were a snapshot of a spring field. Below, we will introduce its appeal and the background of its design in detail from five perspectives.

A neat and secure form

Based on the neat cylindrical shape created by potter's wheel, the soft silhouette widens slightly towards the rim, allowing the matcha foam to be caught in a fluffy manner. The body is left with just the right amount of thickness, making it stable to hold and allowing a tea towel to rest comfortably. The base is cut slightly higher, highlighting the white of the base, tightening the overall feel without compromising its lightness.

Cherry blossom petals shining against the cracks

After applying an ash glaze to the clay, the kiln changes the shape of the glaze, creating delicate crazing that casts subtle shadows depending on the light. Furthermore, the white clay sprayed on from above evokes the image of cherry blossom petals, and when combined with the off-white base, it resembles a soft snowy landscape. Tea seeps into the crazing, deepening the appearance with years of use, creating a sense of aging that is also enjoyable.

Depicting the moment when flowers first bloom

The wood grain in the center of the body is characterized by dynamic brushstrokes painted in one go with iron pigment. The composition of young branches reaching into the sky is reminiscent of cherry blossoms in early spring just beginning to sprout, and combined with the small floral pattern in white clay, it captures the moment when they first bloom. The scattered colors on the outside are accented with tiny flowers in scarlet, indigo, and green, and the same spraying is done on the inside, allowing you to enjoy the scene of cherry blossoms fluttering in the wind even while making tea.

A combination of white clay and overglaze painting

Iron pigment painting : The trunks and branches are painted one by one with pigments containing iron, and the color develops into a calm dark brown after firing. The highlight is the expression of the "wood grain" that makes use of the brushstrokes.

Overglaze painting : After the final firing, red, indigo, and green petals are dotted with a low-temperature glaze and then fired again to set the color. This double firing process requires difficult temperature control, but demonstrates the advanced skill of the kiln master, who is able to achieve both clarity of color and adhesion.

History - Tea Ceremony and Cherry Blossoms

Since the Heian period, cherry blossoms have been featured at cherry blossom viewing parties and in waka poetry, and have also been popular at tea ceremonies as the flower's auspicious omen. Cherry blossom-themed tea utensils are especially prized at the early April tea ceremony known as the "Flower Tea Ceremony." Takahashi Michihachi, a master of Kyoto-style porcelain painting, is known for blending classical designs with a modern sensibility, and in this work he uses minimalist brushstrokes and playful spray-painting to create a light, airy cherry blossom scene that suits modern spaces.

The Takahashi Dohachi family has been known as a prestigious Kyoto ware colored ware family since the late Edo period. The ninth generation master graduated from Kyoto Bunkyo Junior College, majoring in fashion design, and then went on to study molding and research at the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramic Technical College, and further solidified his technical foundation at the Kyoto Industrial Research Institute.

In 1996, he began to study pottery under his father, Dohachi Yashiro, and began making pottery in earnest.

In 2012, he took on the name of the 9th Takahashi Dohachi

His style, which combines the sense of form cultivated through clothing design with the traditional techniques of Kyoto ware, breathes new life into the Dohachika style and displays a refinement that stands out in modern tea ceremony and gallery spaces.

This tea bowl, which seems to capture the breath of spring, is a masterpiece that exquisitely harmonizes the elegance of the pale off-white background and scattered white flowers with the dynamism of the iron paint. When you hold it, the warmth of the base and the unevenness of the sprayed finish feel comfortable on your fingertips, and every time you make matcha, you can imagine a scene of cherry blossom petals dancing inside and outside the bowl. It is perfect for tea ceremonies during the flowering season, and it would also be fun to use it at autumn and winter events to create the atmosphere of "waiting for the flowers." We hope you will cherish it for many years to come, and enjoy the moment when the cherry blossoms sprout with every cup of tea.