Blue porcelain silver handmade water finger Suwa Sozan

Width: 16.4cm Height: 16.4cm

This "Celadon Ginkan Water Jar" was created by Suwa Sozan IV, modeled on the Kinuta celadon of the Longquan kiln of the Southern Song dynasty, and is inspired by the mythical image of the Milky Way, or "Ginkan." As you can see in the photo, the body is a plump egg-shape and the lid projects almost horizontally, evoking the tranquility of a galaxy floating in the night sky. While inheriting the clear jade color of the "Sozan Celadon" perfected by the first Suwa Sozan , the subtle shades of light flickering within the thick glaze create a mysterious, nebula-like landscape on the surface.

molding

Egg-shaped body

The body is designed to be fullest at the top and taper gently towards the bottom. This volume stabilizes the temperature of the water inside, which has the advantage of preventing the water from becoming warm during tea ceremonies.

Low platform and center of gravity design

The base is kept at a modest height and stands straight up without bowing outwards, which keeps the center of gravity low when filled with water, improving ease of handling and stability.

Flat lid and handle (knob)

The lid is flat and slightly curved outwards, with a thin layer of glaze pooling around the edge, making the jade color look even more intense. The handle is hemispherical, reminiscent of a flower bud, and is sized so that the fingertips fit naturally. It has been carefully designed to ensure beautiful movements when opening and closing the jar.

Glaze - Jade green that embodies the story of "Ginkan"

The clarity of Sozan celadon <br data-start="707" data-end="710">The trace amounts of iron (approximately 1%) contained in both the clay and glaze are converted to FeO during reduction firing, giving the piece a highly transparent blue-green color. The thick glaze causes light to be reflected multiple times within the glaze layer, giving the surface a soft, mica-like sparkle.

Shades reminiscent of a nebula <br data-start="829" data-end="832">At the most bulging part of the body, the glaze is about 1.4 mm thick, causing slight pools of color. This evokes the dark lanes of the galaxy, and creates the depth of a quiet night sky throughout the vessel.

Ginkan - The historical and literary background behind the name

The myth of the Hanshui and the Milky Way

In ancient China, it was believed that the Han River, the largest tributary of the Yangtze River, rose into the heavens and became the Milky Way. This was called the "Yin Han" and is said to be the Milky Way that Altair and Vega cross in the Tanabata legend.

Galaxy design in the tea ceremony

In the tea ceremony, combining utensils with a galaxy or star motif has been a popular idea since ancient times, in connection with Tanabata and the harvest moon. Based on this tradition, this piece is designed as a water jar that is perfect for a summer evening or a mid-autumn tea ceremony, by overlaying the image of a nebula on the tranquil color tones of celadon.

Scenery on the Water Surface <br data-start="1535" data-end="1538">When the water jar is filled with water, the inside of the body becomes slightly transparent through the thick glaze, and the water surface becomes a jade-green mirror. During the tea ceremony, the Ginkan tale flickers with each scoop of water with the ladle, adding a poetic touch to the tea ceremony.

Fourth generation Suwa Sozan

Suwa Sozan IV (born in Kyoto in 1970) was trained by Suwa Sozan III and lacquer artist Nakamura Sotetsu XII, and succeeded to the title in 2002. With celadon as his core, he has deepened his scientific approach with techniques such as nerikomi celadon, hotaru-de, and tobi-seiji, and upholds the philosophy that "a work should contain a story, and be completed through interaction with the user's heart." In this piece, he has captured the epic story of "a great river rising to the heavens and becoming a galaxy" within the tranquil celadon glaze.

The "Celadon Silver Han Water Jar" is a masterpiece that reflects the eternal light of the galaxy within the serenity of its jade green. While faithfully emulating the tradition of Southern Song Longquan kiln kinuta celadon, by incorporating ancient Chinese Silver Han mythology, it has been elevated into a tool that invites a poetic universe into the tea ceremony. The moment the lid is opened and the ladle is placed into the water, the flickering light within the vessel evokes the twinkling of the Milky Way, evoking the image of a vast night sky in the viewer's mind. This piece, the fruit of Suwa Sozan IV's refined sense of form and controlled glaze, will enrich the theme of your tea ceremony, creating a special moment where tranquility and grandeur coexist.