Striped black glaze tea bowl by Ogawa Bunsai

Width: 14.0cm x 14.0cm Height: 6.0cm

The lingering impression of lines floating in the darkness - Striated black glaze tea bowl by the 6th Ogawa Bunsai (Kyo)

This tea bowl, reminiscent of pitch black darkness, is a "Striated Black Glazed Tea Bowl" by the 6th Ogawa Bunsai (Oki). At first glance, it is enveloped in a world of tranquil black, but upon closer inspection, the body is decorated with gentle undulating stripes, and the subtle flow of green and red glaze on top of it stands out like ink lines floating in the dark night.

It is not merely black; it has visual and spiritual depth, and is powerfully imprinted with the infinite possibilities hidden in the material known as black glaze, and the innovative spirit of Bunzaigama.

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Serene black - the color of calm and concentration

In Japanese pottery, black glaze is both the "color of silence" and the "color of spirit." This nearly achromatic color rejects unnecessary decoration and has the power to draw the viewer's attention back to the shape and texture of the vessel itself.

This tea bowl also has a deep, lustrous glaze, and is covered in an engrossing black. But this black is not "empty." When it is exposed to a little light, the gentle wheel marks and unevenness in the glaze reveal subtle expressions, giving it a dynamic texture like clouds floating in the night sky.

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The rhythm of the lines and the dancing glaze

The body of the vessel is handcrafted with gentle linear patterns. These lines are not merely decorative, but are a design consideration intended to change the feel of the vessel when the fingertips are touched, imprinting a deep tactile memory. The unevenness of the lines changes the shade of the black glaze, creating a lingering impression that is reminiscent of ink brushstrokes.

Furthermore, on the lines, glaze flows that were born by chance during firing appear, and subtle greens and reds emerge as if bleeding out. This "unpredictable beauty" is the true expression of pottery, and is also a testament to Bunsai's skill in capturing a variety of expressions within the constraints of black.

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A sleek form and a white base

The design is very stable with a wide mouth and low center of gravity, which makes it easy to hold and gives a sense of security. The outline is linear yet soft, giving the whole piece a sense of quiet tension.

Of particular note is the exposed white clay on the base. This white acts as the only "opening" in the black glaze that covers the entire vessel, creating an effect that seems to symbolize the signs of light before dawn. The contrast between black and white, yin and yang, gives the vessel a clear order and a poetic aftertaste.

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The idea behind black - Ogawa Bunsai's exploration

In contrast to his father and fifth-generation master, Bunsai Ogawa (Oki), has chosen green, blue, and black as the subject matter of his own work. His emphasis on harmony and contemplation rather than conflict and assertion resonates deeply with the power of "acceptance" that the color black possesses.

This tea bowl, too, does not compete with splendor or technique, but rather plays a wonderful role as a vessel that clarifies the mind through the "emptiness" of its black color. It has a "core" that can only be found in works that are endlessly quiet, yet have a definite presence.

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What the vessel of silence tells us

This tea bowl placed in a tea room tightens the atmosphere around it more than any other tea utensil. The magnetic force of the black color and the subtle expressions created by the linear pattern and the fluctuation of the glaze draw the viewer's gaze wholeheartedly, and a "silent dialogue" begins.

The intensity of the light, the green of the tea, the serenity of the space - all of these things resonate with this vessel, creating the momentary "ma" (pause) of the tea ceremony.

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Black Embracing the Space of Existence - Eternal and Unfinished Beauty

The "Striated Black Glazed Tea Bowl" is the polar opposite of perfected beauty. Within its black color lies an infinite number of expressions, and every time you look at it or use it, you will discover something new.

This is exactly the kind of beauty that the 6th generation Ogawa Bunsai pursued: "Praying for peace and praising tranquility." The ideal form of vessels that are unobtrusive, do not take away anything, and simply exist there, is embodied here.

Please experience this deep black world for yourself.
There is truly a "poetry of silence" that transcends words alive there.