Lid holder, gold colored acupoints, Dohachi Takahashi

Width: 5.4cm Height: 5.6cm

This piece, featuring a striking modern design, is a "Golden Tsubo Tsubo Openwork" lid rest by Takahashi Michihachi IX. Based on a classic cylindrical shape, its design, combining openwork carving and gold leaf, is a work that sheds new light on the traditions of Kyoto ware. Below, we will introduce its appeal in detail from five perspectives.

1. Beauty of form - A neat cylinder and a soft finish

The entire structure is a neat cylinder, with large and small openwork patterns regularly patterned on the thick walls. The openwork is an abstraction of a "jar," and the soft rhythm of the curves creates a light and swaying effect of light and shadow. The opening at the top is slightly tapered inward, with a gold-painted border creating a clear outline. The balance of stability and lightness that permeates the entire structure is the result of Kudai's outstanding design sense.

2. Glaze - A subdued earthen surface and golden shine

The surface is a golden color reminiscent of a pale candy glaze, yet it retains the calmness of antique pottery. The texture has subtle irregularities and a soft luster, and changes delicately from yellow-brown to grayish white depending on the light. The edges of the openwork are inlaid with a deep blue glaze, which blends with the gold coloring inside to create a scene with depth. The elegant earthenware and gold coloring create a contrast, creating a sense of the exquisite glaze tones that connect the past and the present.

3. Design - The playfulness and space that resides in "Tsubosuki"

The abstract pattern seen in the openwork is a modern reinterpretation of the classic "Tsubotsubomon" (pot pattern). The composition of intersecting circles and semicircles is not simply a design, but also a creative device that allows air and light to "pass through." In the light and darkness of the tea ceremony where the fire is lit, the light that leaks through the openwork casts a pattern on the floor, creating a movement that seems as if the piece is quietly breathing. It is this "beauty of the openwork" that symbolizes the delicate spirituality of Kyoto ware.

4. Technique: Harmony of precise openwork and gold leaf

After the piece is shaped on a potter's wheel, the openwork sections are cut out one by one with a blade during the drying stage, and the edges are coated with blue glaze to accentuate the shape. The inner edges are then decorated with gold, and the luster is fixed by low-temperature firing. Temperature control, involving multiple test firings, is essential to ensure that the glaze does not bleed or the gold does not become cloudy. These delicate processes are imbued with the traditions of the Dohachi schools and the ninth generation's experimental spirit.

5. Historical and Cultural Background - The Beauty of "Watermarks" in the Tea Ceremony

Among tea ceremony utensils, the lid rest plays an important supporting role, catching the eye by the hearth or brazier. Its design can be said to be a "focus of elegance" that symbolizes the host's taste. Openwork lid rests have been favored since the late Edo period as designs that allow light and breezes to enter, and in Kyoto ware in particular, styles that combine delicate craftsmanship with overglaze painting are often seen. While this piece is based on that tradition, the contrast between the gold and indigo glaze gives it a modern atmosphere, adding a touch of elegance to the tranquility of the tea ceremony.

The ninth generation Takahashi Dohachi studied fashion design before moving on to pottery, studying under the eighth generation in 1996 and succeeding to the name of the ninth generation in 2012. While respecting the context of traditional Kyoto ware, he incorporates a modern perspective into the designs, presenting a new aesthetic sense to tea ceremony implements.

This piece is truly a "creation of light and shadow," with gold faintly shining against the tranquil earthenware. It is an exceptional piece that continues to radiate a fresh brilliance even over time, echoing the warmth of the tea ceremony.