One blue porcelain wheel Masao Tagai

Width: 7.8cm x 8.2cm Height: 11cm

Single Celadon Flower (Seiji Ichirin) by Masao Tagai

1. Overview of the work

This celadon vase is imbued with a pale blue reminiscent of the sky after rain - the so-called "Uka Tensei" (blue after the rain). After being shaped on a potter's wheel, the body was deliberately flattened with bare hands and then hand-twisted to create unevenness, creating organic shadows and a soft dynamic. The rim is left split in an undulating pattern, and the areas where the thin glaze was not applied develop a silvery-gray color, sharply tightening the world of tranquil blue. A faint milky layer is visible beneath the mirror-like glaze, revealing a rich gradation of depth as the light catches it.

2. Shape and design

3. Glaze and Technique

Rain turns blue
The iron powder is suppressed, and after firing at a high temperature, the "reduction-off" process is used, which switches the firing process to oxidation towards the end. This results in a clear blue without any reddish tinge, and a milky layer that adds depth.

Ice cracks, intrusions and iron spots <br data-start="680" data-end="683">By making the expansion coefficients of the clay and glaze as similar as possible, large cracks are suppressed while tiny ice cracks add shadows. Iron is reduced in the glaze pools in the recesses, forming black spots that add an accent to the scenery.

Mirror Finish <br data-start="786" data-end="789">The surface of the glaze is re-melted by low-temperature reduction after firing, giving it a moist luster and soft reflection.

4. Aesthetic intent and historical background

Masao Tagai combines the subtle and elegant celadon from the Longquan kilns of the Song dynasty with the spirit of "wabi, the pursuit of enjoying the scenery" that has been cultivated in Japanese tea ceremony pottery, in pursuit of works that stand out in modern spaces. This work is notable for its expression of a harmony of stillness and movement, by incorporating the randomness of natural stone and the fluidity of water droplets into the tranquility of the refined celadon.

5. Flower arrangement and decoration

In the alcove, the height is adjusted by placing it on a black painted viewing stand or old wood board, and when slanting light hits it, the uneven scenery stands out even more.

6. Viewing points

Flickering light reflected on the uneven surface <br data-start="1361" data-end="1364">When slanting light shines on it, the reflections flicker like the surface of water, and the shade of the blue glaze changes from moment to moment.

The wabi taste of the iron rim and iron dots <br data-start="1420" data-end="1423">The black dots on the rim and body tighten the blue, creating a sophisticated look reminiscent of antique celadon.

Growing Scenery <br data-start="1475" data-end="1478">As the flowers bloom and time passes, a mist forms under the glaze, causing the vessel to change and breathe along with its owner.

"Seipin Ichirin" is a vessel that embodies a "living landscape," where the serenity of the clear blue, the dynamism of hand-twisting, and the wabi aesthetic of the iron rim and iron dots coexist. Simply inserting a single flower will breathe fresh life into the space, and the process by which the surface of the vessel changes gradually over the years will be engraved with your own personal story. Please use it for many years to come and enjoy the changing of the celadon along with the flowers of the four seasons.

A conversation with Masao Tagai