Raku tea bowl with a picture of flames by Kosai Miyagawa

Height: 9.0cm Width: 12.0cm

The "Black Glazed Hand-Formed Bonfire Tea Bowl by Miyagawa Kosai" is a masterpiece that combines Miyagawa Kosai's Makuzu ware techniques with traditional Japanese beauty. This tea bowl is characterized by the warmth of hand-formed ware and the deep color of the black glaze. The "bonfire" and cherry blossom design on it evoke a sense of mysterious beauty. This tea bowl, which seems to symbolize bonfire Noh and classical Japanese aesthetics, will leave a deep impression on the viewer and add a touch of elegance to the quiet atmosphere of the tea ceremony.

The beauty of hand-building techniques

Tebineri is a technique in which the work is shaped by hand, without the use of a potter's wheel, and is characterized by the direct reflection of the maker's touch in the piece. This "Black Glazed Tebineri Bonfire Tea Bowl" is created with the irregular yet well-balanced hemispherical shape that is unique to this hand-building technique, and exudes a warm, enveloping quality. This handmade tea bowl has a unique texture, weight, and shape when held in the hand, evoking a sense of dialogue with the user.

Each hand-formed tea bowl is unique and there are no two bowls that are the same, making them truly one-of-a-kind. The smooth surface of the black glaze and the natural shape of the hand-formed bowl combine to create a tea bowl that exudes the warmth of something handmade, and is in harmony with the spirit of the tea ceremony.

The deep color of black glaze and its techniques

"Black glaze" is a glaze that contains a lot of iron and is fired at high temperatures to produce a deep, beautiful black color. This black glaze is a technique with a long history in the world of tea ceremony, and it serves as an ideal background to highlight the vibrant green color of matcha. Furthermore, black glaze is sensitive to temperature and environment, and requires careful adjustments during the firing process. Therefore, it requires a high level of skill and experience to master this glaze.

Miyagawa Kosai has maximized the beauty of the black glaze, giving this tea bowl depth and serenity. Depending on how the light hits the surface of the black glaze, subtle nuances emerge, revealing a variety of expressions to the user. Combined with the warmth of the hand-formed piece, the depth of the black glaze enhances the tranquil atmosphere of the tea ceremony, while its shadows bring a sense of peace to the viewer.

Bonfires and Cherry Blossoms: A Symbol of Mysterious Beauty

This tea bowl features a bonfire and cherry blossoms. The bonfire symbolizes the torches used in ancient Japanese nighttime rituals and festivals, and has played a particularly important role in bonfire Noh performances. The flickering flames of the bonfire symbolize the mysterious worldview and express the spirit of Japanese culture, which pursues the fleeting yet beautiful.

Cherry blossoms are a symbolic flower of Japan, and the sight of cherry blossoms fluttering in the wind has been sung in many songs and poems since ancient times, as they are seen as a symbol of both transience and beauty. In the Kokin Wakashu, there are 18 poems about plum blossoms, but 70 about cherry blossoms, and cherry blossoms have been deeply rooted in the hearts of Japanese people since the Heian period. Cherry blossoms are not only beautiful when they bloom, but are also beautiful as they fall, and their transience symbolizes the unique Japanese aesthetic. The cherry blossoms depicted on this tea bowl are depicted as if they are fluttering in the midst of a bonfire, evoking a sense of harmony between nature and humans.

The falling cherry blossoms represent the cycle of new life, while the flames symbolize the transience of life. By combining these two elements, this tea bowl combines fleeting beauty with the symbolism of eternity, evoking a sense of the impermanence of nature and deep spirituality within the context of the tea ceremony.

Miyagawa Kosai and the tradition of Makuzu ware

Miyagawa Kosai is a renowned Kyoto family that has been producing Makuzu ware for generations. The history of Makuzu ware dates back to the Jokyo era (1684-1687) of the Edo period, when Yukan Miyagawa Kobee Masakazu, an ancestor of the Miyagawa family, opened a kiln in Kyoto and entered the world of pottery. Yukan's sons ran a kiln called "Rakuya" and honed their skills, eventually bringing Makuzu ware to an important position in the Kyoto pottery world.

In particular, the technique of using "straw ash glaze" is a signature feature of Makuzu ware, and is a glaze that has been passed down through generations. This glaze uses straw ash remaining after firewood is burned as part of the glaze, creating a beautiful, translucent finish. The Miyagawa family boasts outstanding skills in the production of tea ceremony and sencha tea utensils, and Makuzu ware is highly regarded not only in Japan, but also in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, and other countries.

Contemporary Recognition of Miyagawa Kosai and His Works

The Miyagawa Kosai family's works are held in many museums and private collections both in Japan and abroad, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Permanent Mission of Japan to UNESCO in Paris. Even today, the Miyagawa family's works continue to be highly acclaimed and are an essential part of the world of traditional Japanese ceramics.

The "Black Glazed Hand-Made Bonfire Tea Bowl," in particular, has garnered attention both in Japan and abroad for its beauty, craftsmanship, and profound spirituality. This tea bowl is not only a practical tea utensil, but also a highly valued work of art, beloved by many tea masters and art lovers. The tea ceremony is not merely a tool for preparing tea; it also pursues cultural depth and beauty, and Miyagawa Kosai's tea bowls are emblematic of this pursuit. This piece combines the warmth of hand-making, the richness of the black glaze, and the beautiful painting of bonfires and cherry blossoms, making it a true work of tea art. Combining the warmth of the handcrafted with the subtle beauty of a subtle craft, this tea bowl has impressed many people both as a tool used in the world of tea ceremony and as a craft that embodies traditional Japanese beauty.

A conversation with Miyagawa Kosai