Goldfish incense holder by Rakusai Onishi
Goldfish incense holder by Rakusai Onishi
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Width: 9.0cm x 8.3cm Height: 5.8cm
Goldfish incense container (Kingyo Kogo) by Onishi Rakusai
--Listen to the cool sound of summer water as the tail fin sways in the palm of your hand --
1. Overview of the work
This goldfish-shaped incense holder was created by Akahada ware maker Onishi Rakusai of Yatsushiro, Nara. Its small dimensions, approximately 9cm in length and 6cm in height, realistically capture the shape of the fish's rounded body and gracefully opening tail fin, and the incense holder is divided into two halves, top and bottom, at the center of the body. The deep crimson scale pattern on the body, created using a copper-red glaze, contrasts with the white porcelain glaze, creating a refreshing midsummer feeling.
2. Form and design
| part | Characteristics of the design | Reed Award Points |
|---|---|---|
| head | The full cheeks and adorable mouth are expressed with chamfered edges. | The clear jawline emphasizes the sense of life, and the eyes are painted with black dots to enhance realism. |
| torso | Diamond scale pattern carved with a bamboo spatula | Copper-red glaze accumulates in the depressions of the scales, and the color changes from reddish purple to crimson depending on the angle of the light. |
| tail fin | Thin plate-shaped moldings are stacked and opened three-dimensionally | The flowing lines are intentionally preserved, and the pools of glaze evoke reflections on the surface of water. |
| Lid alignment | The parting line is hidden in the natural curve of the abdomen | It ensures smooth opening and closing while maintaining a unified look that does not detract from the appearance. |
3. Techniques and glaze tones
White porcelain glaze x copper-red glaze applied <br data-end="653" data-start="650">A white porcelain glaze mainly composed of feldspar is applied to the entire base, and after drying, a copper-red glaze is brushed on to the scales. When reduced and fired at 1240°C, the copper turns red, and some parts change to purple-red.
Light crazing
As the piece is slowly cooled after firing, fine cracks appear in the white porcelain glaze, and over time the tea color seeps in, deepening the appearance.
Precision Sculpture <br data-end="810" data-start="807">After roughly turning the clay on a potter's wheel, the fins are joined by hand. The scales are carved out when the clay is half-dry, ensuring strength while maintaining the thinness of the tail.
4. Goldfish and Japanese Culture
Goldfish were imported from China in the early Edo period and became established as a seasonal event that brings about coolness, including goldfish scooping at summer festivals. The rounded "Ryukin" goldfish are particularly popular in decorations and toy designs, and are considered a symbol of summer, coolness, and good fortune . Furthermore, because fish is associated with the word "amaru" (excess), it is also an auspicious motif that represents fertility and wealth , and in the tea ceremony, there is a tradition of using goldfish incense containers to bring a sense of coolness to guests just before the summer festival, on Tanabata, and around the time of the dog days of summer.
5. Examples of arrangements at tea ceremonies
| Season and taste | stem/flower | Incense | dramatic effects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Around Tanabata (light heat) | Scroll "Uninterrupted Clear Stream", Flowers: Kohone | Sandalwood-based incense | Suggesting the coolness of the waterside and the sparkle of the star festival |
| Around the time of the Ox in the Dog Days | Axis "Ryoichimi", Flower: Light blue morning glory | Kara piece | The contrast between the heat of midsummer and the crimson of the red kingyo enhances the cool feeling. |
| Double Ninth Festival | Scroll "Ennen Tenso" Flower: White chrysanthemum | A little Borneolum | Reminiscent of goldfish swimming in chrysanthemum water, it is a prayer for longevity. |
6. Onishi Rakusai's approach to pottery making
Based on the philosophy of "transforming the history and auspicious signs of Nara into modern tea ceremony pottery," Onishi Rakusai has been actively challenging himself with themes of Yamato symbols such as deer, temple bells, and the Yumedono Hall, as well as auspicious fish that adorn the seasons. In this piece, the soft clay unique to Akahada ware is enveloped in a white porcelain glaze, and the vivid colors of a copper-red glaze are layered on top, creating a coexistence of warm elegance and coolness, wabi (simpleness) and gaiety , making it worthy of being the centerpiece of a summer ceremony.
The "Goldfish Incense Container" is a masterpiece that captures the refreshing sound of water and the excitement of summer in the palm of your hand. When you open the lid, the rising incense smoke envelops the goldfish like bubbles floating on the water's surface, bringing a momentary cool breeze into the tea room. Please enjoy the delicate sculptural power unique to Onishi Rakusai and the visually refreshing contrast of red and white at your midsummer tea ceremony.
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