10 Black glaze hand-formed snow-covered plum tea bowl by Miyagawa Kosai

Height: 9.0cm Width: 12.0cm

"Black Glazed Hand-formed Plum in Snow Tea Bowl" is an extremely delicate and elegant tea bowl hand-formed by Miyagawa Kosai, a representative of Makuzu ware. This tea bowl is covered in a deep black glaze, giving it a sense of weightiness, as if the silence of a dark night had been trapped inside the bowl. On this black canvas, the plum blossoms blooming in the snow are vividly depicted, evoking in the viewer a scene that makes one feel the power of life even in the harsh cold of winter. The plum blossoms are depicted in full bloom, and the falling white snow accentuates their beauty, expressing the changing of the seasons and the beauty of nature that permeates the entire tea bowl.

The glaze is thick, and you can feel its warmth when you touch it with your fingertips. This is not just visual beauty, but an important element that gives the bowl a sense of familiarity through touch. The thickness of the glaze emphasizes the handmade feel of the bowl, and gives the impression of the artist putting his heart and soul into each and every step of the process. The design is simple yet calm, and exudes a sense of capacity, giving the viewer a sense of security. This tea bowl is not just beautiful; it has a weightiness that makes you want to make strong tea with it, and is also a masterpiece that is practical as a tea ceremony utensil.

Characteristics and techniques of Makuzu ware

Makuzu ware is known for inheriting and beautifully combining traditional Kyoto ware techniques such as overglaze painting techniques such as Ninsei copy and Kenzan copy, as well as blue and white and iron painting. It is also characterized by gorgeous decorative techniques such as Kouchi and Kinrande, which makes Makuzu ware particularly highly regarded among Kyoto pottery. This "Black Glazed Hand-formed Plum in Snow Tea Bowl" also reflects the traditional aesthetic sense of Kyoto ware, with the depth of the black glaze and the vividness of the plum in snow in perfect harmony. Of particular note is the use of Kyoto ware techniques to create the depth and transparency of the black glaze. This technique gives the surface of the tea bowl a kind of mysterious shine, and the expression changes depending on the angle of the light, which adds to the enjoyment of viewing it.

The relationship between Makuzu ware and the tea ceremony

Miyagawa Kosai's Makuzu ware is not just a decorative item, but is also deeply related to the tea ceremony as a tool. The Miyagawa family is a potter that has been around since the Edo period, with a history of over 330 years. During the period when the tea ceremony culture was flourishing, they continued to make tea utensils, and were loved by tea masters. The fourth generation, Eiyo Kosai, studied the tea ceremony himself and became famous as a tea ceremony utensil artist. This "Snow Plum Tea Bowl" also inherits that tradition, and it can be said to be a work that embodies not only a vessel for drinking tea, but also the spirituality and aesthetic sense of the tea ceremony. When this tea bowl is used to make thick tea, the deep color of the black glaze will bring out the color of the tea, further tightening the atmosphere of the entire tea room. In the tea ceremony, the tea bowl is not just a tool, but plays an important role in creating the beauty of the place. This "Snow Plum Tea Bowl" is also a work that embodies the culture of Kyoto's tea ceremony, and enriches the hearts of those who use it.

Miyagawa Kosai and the future of Makuzu ware

The Miyagawa Kosai family has been preserving the traditions of Makuzu ware in Kyoto for over 330 years, but their techniques are not merely traditional, and they are always seeking new expressions to suit the times. This "Black Glazed Hand-formed Plum Tea Bowl in Snow" is a work that combines traditional techniques with a modern sensibility, and is widely supported by tea masters and pottery enthusiasts both in Japan and abroad. Recently, the number of fans overseas, including in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and China, has also increased, and Miyagawa Kosai's works have been highly praised internationally. The beauty of Makuzu ware, which evokes the splendor and elegance of Kyoto, will continue to fascinate people not only in Japan, but all over the world. This "Black Glazed Hand-formed Plum Tea Bowl in Snow" will also be a masterpiece that will continue to be loved by tea masters all over the world for its beauty and ease of use.