Stone mill incense holder by Rakusai Onishi

Width: 6.4cm x 6.4cm Height: 6.0cm

Stone mill incense container (Ishiusu-kogo) Made by Onishi Rakusai

--A palm-sized water grinder that brings out the aroma of ground tea--

This piece has a wooden lid.

1. Overview of the work

This stone-mill-shaped incense holder was created by Akahada ware maker Onishi Rakusai of Yatsushiro, Nara. Though it is a small piece measuring approximately 6.4 cm in diameter and 6 cm in height, it faithfully replicates the three-layer structure of a millstone: the upper stone, lower stone, and base. The upper stone serves as a wooden lid to hold incense paste and aloeswood fragments.

2. Shape and design

3. Glaze tones and techniques

Pale yellow-gray glaze
The glaze, mainly composed of feldspar and wood ash, is applied to the entire surface and then reduced firing is performed at around 1240°C, resulting in a soft honey color. Crazing that occurs during firing creates a fine mesh pattern, reminiscent of the rough surface of a millstone.

Akahada clay texture
The iron contained in the clay gives the glaze a subtle reddish hue, which, combined with the rough texture of the stone powder, expresses the wabi (traditional Japanese aesthetic) of a well-used millstone.

Molding <br data-end="802" data-start="799">The base and body are molded into one piece on a potter's wheel, and then the lid is trimmed and divided when it is half dry. The surface of the lid is then scored before being bisque fired to maintain the sharpness of the engraved marks.

4. Millstones and the Tea Ceremony

The stone mill that grinds tencha tea leaves to make matcha is a key player behind the scenes, supporting the origins of tea ceremony. The fine powder created by the rotation of the mill is the key to maximizing the tea's aroma and sweetness, and in the world of tea ceremony, it has even been said that "if the mill stops, so does the way." Since the method of making matcha was established in Zen temples from the Kamakura to Muromachi periods, stone mills have been revered as a nexus between Zen, tea, and agriculture, and have been favored as a design element for incense containers since the early Edo period.

5. Arrangements at tea ceremonies

6. Onishi Rakusai's ceramics philosophy

Onishi Rakusai's motto is "Bringing the history and auspiciousness of Nara to tea pottery in the palm of your hand," and in addition to themes associated with Yamato such as deer, temple bells, and shingo ornaments, he has also been enthusiastically working on stone mills, which symbolize the true essence of tea. In this piece, he has harmoniously combined the warm texture of the Akahada clay with the simple functional beauty of the stone mill , creating an elegance that makes it seem as if you can hear the rhythm of tencha tea just by holding it in the palm of your hand.

The "Stone Mill Incense Container" is a masterpiece that condenses the stone mill that is the source of matcha into the palm of your hand, evoking the origins of tea along with the scented smoke. Every time you open the lid, the gently rising fragrance will remind you of the turning of the mill, allowing your guests to experience the "space-time of grinding tea." Please enjoy the neat design unique to Onishi Rakusai and the soft glaze of Akahada ware at any tea ceremony in any season. Please also enjoy the interesting wooden lid.

A conversation with Rakusai Onishi