Blue porcelain flat tea bowl Suwa Sozan

Width: 15.2cm Height: 5.8cm

Celadon is a type of ceramic ware characterized by its blue to blue-green glaze , which is colored by trace amounts of iron contained in the glaze through a firing method called "reduction flame firing" with little oxygen.The color is not simply "blue"; it changes every day in natural light, and depending on the viewing angle and the intensity of the light, it emits a mysterious glow with the depth and transparency of jade .

Its origins date back to the Eastern Han dynasty in China, between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. Ash-glazed pottery made from wood ash evolved in the Zhejiang province area, and the blue-green coloring caused by the accidental addition of iron became the origin of what would later be known as "celadon." Celadon was refined at the Yue kilns of the Tang dynasty, and then at the Ru kilns of the Five Dynasties and Northern Song dynasty, celadon, which played a central role in aristocratic culture, was born.

During the Southern Song dynasty (1127–1279), the Longquan kilns reached their peak of prosperity, producing Kinuta celadon porcelain, beloved by royalty and aristocrats. Its jade-like colors and shapes, imbued with ceremonial and religious significance, gave it the status of imperial vessels and ceremonial ware . Celadon became more than just an art form; it also became a spiritual entity symbolizing the order of the universe .

Blue porcelain flat tea bowl

This "Celadon Flat Tea Bowl" is a masterpiece of modern celadon created by Suwa Sozan IV with the aim of pursuing functionality and beauty suited to the space of the tea ceremony, while inheriting the long lineage and philosophy of celadon. The glaze color inherits the "Sozan Celadon" that Suwa Sozan I completed in 1907 after 25 years of research, and emits a brilliance that could be described as a truly breathing color , with subtle fluctuations of light and deep shadows within the jade green.

Beauty of Form and Design

1. The meaning of the flat tea bowl shape

Unlike regular matcha bowls, flat tea bowls have a wide opening and a low body, and are primarily used for midsummer tea ceremonies . They have a visually refreshing feel, and the tranquil space created within the bowl calms the drinker's mind and creates a sense of oneness with nature.

In this piece, the flat tea bowl is designed with an extremely neat shape, with a slightly curved rim and a wide, stable base, and the green surface that appears when matcha is poured into it is intended to beautifully blend in with the scenery of the bowl itself.

2. The design of the elevated platform and the clever center of gravity

The slightly understated base lowers the center of gravity of the vessel, improving its stability during tea ceremonies. The slight curve and change in angle from the base to the base also improves the sense of fit when holding the vessel, making it extremely functional during tea ceremonies.

Glaze Tone - The Profound World of Sozan Celadon

The most important element in celadon porcelain is the color and texture of the glaze . The jade green glaze on this piece is highly transparent, and the subtle refraction and reflection of light create a complex coloration that changes appearance depending on the viewer's point of view.

The thickness of the glaze is slightly thicker on the body and delicately adjusted on the inner rim, deeper on the outside and shallower on the inside - this contrast creates a dialogue between yin and yang, stillness and movement , within the vessel. The contrast with the subtle redness of the clay that appears on the sides of the foot also further accentuates the color of the celadon glaze.

" Space and Time" in the Tea Ceremony

This flat tea bowl is more than just a tableware; it transforms the quality of the space and time during a tea ceremony. Particularly in the cool midsummer of a tea ceremony, the green of the brewed matcha overlaps with the blue of the bowl, creating a scene resembling the surface of water, almost like a single ink painting.

Furthermore, the beauty of the emptiness of the vessels - the silence that permeates the color of the glaze - can be said to be a silent philosophy that is reminiscent of Zen.

history

The first Suwa Sozan was born into a family of Kaga feudal lords, and after the Meiji Restoration, he took up ceramic painting. He then spent over 25 years researching glazes and clay to recreate the Kinuta celadon of the Longquan kilns of the Southern Song Dynasty. In 1907, he completed the "Sozan Celadon," and in 1917, he was recognized for his achievements as an "Imperial Household Artist."

The current fourth-generation Suwa Sozan , influenced by his father, the third-generation, and his mother, the 12th-generation Nakamura Sotetsu , is expanding the possibilities of modern celadon by flexibly incorporating techniques such as plaster molding, nerikomi, tobiseiji, and hotarude. This piece also deeply reflects the teachings of his mother, that "a vessel should contain a story," and its stillness contains memories and spirituality of a long time.

The universe in a bowl

The "Celadon Flat Tea Bowl" is not just a tea bowl. It is a tranquil universe living in the modern age, fusing the 2,000-year history of celadon, the culture of prayer embodied in the vessel, and the sensitivity and study of Suwa Sozan IV.

The color of the jade is ever-changing, breathing with light. This piece, which evokes an infinite expanse and an untouchable abyss within the tranquil composition of a flat tea bowl, can be said to be a masterpiece that embodies the aesthetics and spirituality of celadon porcelain in its purest form.

When you place it in your palm, the coldness gradually turns to warmth, and the piece begins to speak to you - celadon is a poem that blooms at the intersection of nature, technique, and spirit .