Tenmoku glaze katakuchi by Okada Yu

Width: 13.0cm Height: 7.0cm

Tenmoku-glazed katakuchi (cup with glazed glaze) by Okada Masaru - "A katakuchi at night, with a single vein of water gliding through the black lapis lazuli that submerges the starlight."

Overview of the work

The deep lapis lazuli black of the Tenmoku glaze is reminiscent of Song Dynasty Jianzhan ware. A pale pink fire mark, created by a reducing flame, runs faintly along the rim, and a green-gray band like a mist runs down the center of the body. The modestly extended beak is as delicate as the bow of a moon-shaped boat cutting through the water. This versatile piece can be used as a tea cooler, a sake cup, or a serving bowl.

The mysterious beauty of Tenmoku glaze

Silver Sand Stardust : Iron crystals emit a faint light on the surface, twinkling like stardust depending on the angle of the light.

Green-gray mist band : A pale jade green lies at the boundary where reduction and oxidation intersect, reminiscent of the surface of a dark lake.

Pale red fire : The glaze that has accumulated on the rim is tinged reddish purple by the reduction flame, breathing warmth into the darkness.

The artist's perspective

Born in Gojozaka, Kiyomizu, Okada Masaru worked with fire in the coal mines of Uji. The wind blowing across the foot of the mountain at midnight, the surface of a lake reflecting the starlight - these memories are sealed in black glaze and faint kiln changes, and a single wind path is drawn with the beak. His creative philosophy of "allowing the wind to blow gently inside and outside the vessel" is alive in this small katakuchi.

Conclusion

As you gently tilt a katakuchi cup in your palm on a starry night, the shimmering silver sand and the lingering pale pink color will glide into the sake cup or tea bowl. The Tenmoku glaze katakuchi cup will envelop your moment with a drink or a bowl in the poetry of the night sky, and will add a quiet depth to seasonal sake, hot water, and soup stock.