One blue porcelain wheel Masao Tagai

Width: 7.8cm x 8.2cm Height: 11cm

Celadon single flower by Masao Tagai

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1. Overview of the work

This piece is a celadon vase with a pale blue reminiscent of the sky after rain - the so-called "rainy blue". After shaping on a potter's wheel, the body was deliberately crushed with bare hands and then hand-twisted to create unevenness, creating organic shadows and soft movement. The rim is left split to create a wavy shape, and the areas where the glaze was not applied thinly develop a silver-gray color, sharply tightening the world of tranquil blue. A faint milky layer is visible beneath the mirror-like glaze, revealing a deep gradation whenever the light hits it.

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2. Shape and design

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3. Glaze and technique

Blue color after rain
The iron powder is suppressed, and after firing at a high temperature, the "reduction drop" process is used, which switches to oxidation towards the end. This results in a clear blue without any reddish tinge, and a milky layer that gives depth.

Ice cracks and iron spots <br data-end="683" data-start="680">By making the expansion coefficients of the clay and glaze layer as close as possible, large cracks are suppressed while very fine ice cracks add shadow. Iron is reduced in the glaze pools in the recesses, turning into black spots that add an accent to the scenery.

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

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4. Aesthetic intent and historical background

Masao Tagai combines the subtle and profound celadon of Song Dynasty Longquan Kilns with the spirit of "enjoying the scenery" cultivated in Japanese tea ceremony pottery, in pursuit of works that stand out in modern spaces. The main feature of this work is that it expresses a harmony of stillness and movement by incorporating the randomness of natural stone and the fluidity of water droplets into the serenity of the neat celadon.

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5. Flower arrangement and decoration

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

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6. Points to note when viewing

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

The iron rim and iron dots give it a refined look . The black dots on the rim and body tighten the blue, creating a sophisticated look reminiscent of antique celadon.

Growing Scenery <br data-end="1478" data-start="1475">As the flowers bloom or time passes, a mist appears under the glaze, and the vessel changes, as if breathing along with its owner.

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7. Conclusion

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

A conversation with Masao Tagai – High-end pottery specialty store [Amagi-do]