Shigaraki clay straw ash glaze blue maple with running water tea bowl by kosai Miyagawa

"Shigaraki Clay Straw Ash Glazed Tea Bowl with Green Maple and Flowing Water by Miyagawa Kosai" is a tea bowl symbolizing early summer, crafted using Shigaraki clay and traditional Makuzu ware techniques. Featuring a motif of green maple and flowing water that evokes the feeling of early summer, this tea bowl is characterized by the soft, warm texture of the straw ash glaze, while bringing out the unique qualities of Shigaraki clay, which has supported Japanese pottery culture since ancient times. Combining the Miyagawa family's long history and outstanding techniques, this piece is a wonderful example of how the beauty of Japan's nature and the sense of the seasons can be expressed in tea utensils.

The characteristics of Shigaraki clay: coarse soil texture and rich expressiveness

Shigaraki clay, used in Shigaraki ware, has been highly valued as a ceramic material since ancient times. Its greatest characteristics are its fire resistance and coarse texture. The addition of Kibushi clay makes Shigaraki clay highly plastic, making it suitable for creating large pieces and thick vessels. This clay is also versatile and adaptable to a wide range of pottery-making techniques, including hand-twisting and wheel-throwing. When fired using oxidation firing, Shigaraki clay turns a pale yellow, highlighting the vibrant color of the white glaze. Furthermore, Shigaraki clay contains a high amount of feldspar, and when the feldspar grains melt during firing, they float to the surface of the vessel, creating a unique appearance. This pattern, known as "milky white dots," is symbolic of the unique texture of Shigaraki ware's clay, and this tea bowl fully demonstrates this texture.

Green maple leaves and flowing water patterns - reflecting the atmosphere of early summer

Another fascinating feature of this tea bowl is its green maple and flowing water motif. Green maples symbolize the early summer season, when young maple leaves turn lush and green. May is the best time to see green maples, and the fragrant early summer breezes rustle the leaves, bringing a sense of freshness. The green maple, embodying the seasonal charm, is a commonly used motif in the world of tea ceremony, bringing a cool, refreshing atmosphere to the tea ceremony. The beautiful green maple leaves after the rain evoke a sense of cool early summer. The addition of the flowing water motif further emphasizes this sense of freshness. The flowing water motif adds movement to the tea bowl's design, creating a visual effect that makes it appear as if water is flowing continuously. This combination of green maples and flowing water can be found not only in tea utensils but also in hanging scrolls and other decorative art, allowing the beauty of early summer to be enjoyed throughout the tea room.

The charm of straw ash glaze - the traditional technique of the Miyagawa Kosai family

The straw ash glaze is a glazing technique that has been carefully passed down through generations of the Miyagawa Kosai family. It imparts a soft, bluish, milky-white sheen to the surface of the vessel, creating a plump, elegant texture. This glaze's subtle variations in appearance depend on the clay and firing conditions, allowing for a variety of aesthetics to be enjoyed, from a warm reddish finish to a cool, bluish-white finish. This particular tea bowl, in particular, exquisitely blends the rustic surface of the Shigaraki clay with the mellow luster of the straw ash glaze. The rough texture of the Shigaraki clay is smoothly covered by the glaze, creating a warm, touchable surface that permeates the entire bowl. This technique is a symbol of Makuzu ware, and the tradition that has been passed down through the Miyagawa family for over 200 years continues to live on.

The History of Makuzu Ware - The Pottery Tradition of the Miyagawa Family

The history of Makuzu ware spans over 330 years. Its origins date back to the Jokyo era (1684-1687) when Yukan Miyagawa Kobee Masakazu opened a kiln in Kyoto. Later, Miyagawa Chozo V established a kiln in Makuzugahara (now Maruyama Park) and popularized the name of Makuzu ware. Chozo's younger brother, Toranosuke, moved to Yokohama and became the first Makuzu Kozan. The Miyagawa family's pottery techniques and aesthetic sense were highly acclaimed both in Japan and abroad. Meanwhile, Miyagawa Kosai I, who inherited the Jihei family business, dedicated himself to the production of tea ceremony and sencha tea utensils while preserving the traditions of Kyoto ware. The current Miyagawa Kosai VII continues to carry on the traditions of Makuzu ware while incorporating modern sensibilities. Makuzu ware is housed in prestigious art museums around the world, including the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Permanent Mission of Japan to UNESCO in Paris, and its craftsmanship and beauty are internationally recognized. This piece skillfully expresses the atmosphere of early summer, taking advantage of the characteristics of Shigaraki clay. The motif of green maple leaves and flowing water gives the tea bowl a sense of freshness and elegance, while the soft luster of the straw ash glaze envelops the entire vessel. This tea bowl, which combines Shigaraki clay with the traditional techniques of the Miyagawa family, is a truly artistic piece that incorporates Japanese nature and a sense of the seasons into the world of tea ceremony. This tea bowl, which crystallizes the techniques and aesthetic sense of the long-established Miyagawa family, will be a presence in the world of tea ceremony that brings comfort to the user while allowing them to feel the change of seasons.

A conversation with Miyagawa Kosai