Celadon lid rest by Suwa Sozan

Width: 6.1cm Height: 5.8cm

What is a lid rest? Great functionality and aesthetic sense packed into a small vessel

A lid rest is a tool used to temporarily place the lid of a tea kettle or a ladle during the tea ceremony. This small piece of equipment, which accompanies the momentary actions of daily life, is not only practical but also plays an important role in expressing the aesthetic sense, seasonal feeling, and taste of the tea master .

The materials used are diverse, and bamboo, metal, and ceramic pieces like this one have been prized since ancient times. Ceramic lid rests in particular offer freedom in design and a rich range of expression through the use of glazes , and are an area in which the artist's individuality and philosophy can be more deeply reflected.

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Characteristics of this piece: A cosmic melody played by three-colored porcelain clay

This piece, "Nerikomi Celadon Lid Rest," was made by kneading three types of porcelain clay - white porcelain, celadon, and indigo blue porcelain - together and forming them on a potter's wheel. This technique is called "nerikomi," and it is a production method that requires extremely high skill and sensitivity when it comes to porcelain.

The surface of the vessel features soft, swirling lines, creating an organic pattern reminiscent of swirling air or water . The brightness of the white porcelain, the transparency of the celadon, and the depth of the indigo porcelain are in perfect harmony, evoking a scene of the gently swaying sky or ocean .

The essence of this technique is that the design does not appear artificial, and Suwa Sozan sees the rhythm of this kneading process as a symbol of natural creation and harmony , and by deliberately leaving white space in the composition, he creates a calm and gentle flow in the tea ceremony.

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Simplicity and tension in the form

The shape is extremely simple, based on a neat cylindrical form. It is within this quiet beauty of form that resides the sense of tension and stability appropriate for the tea ceremony .

The balance between the height and diameter is ideally designed to naturally support the contact surface of the ladle and the kettle lid, and the thickness and center of gravity are such that it is easy to lift with your fingertips.It does not lose its function as a lid rest, and at the same time, it creates a ceramic scene that draws the eye.

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Presentation and symbolism in the tea ceremony

This lid rest can be used for both a ro and a furo, and when placed in a water kettle or displayed on a shelf, it will enhance the tea ceremony as a tool that exudes a refined, poetic atmosphere .

In the tea ceremony, the shape and color of the lid rest are chosen according to the season and the theme of the tea ceremony , so pieces like this one, which have an abstract yet natural feel, are extremely effective in creating a sense of the season in tea ceremonies with meteorological or space themes , such as "Seimei," "Suzukaze," and "Shimotsuki."

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Technique and philosophy - The state of the universe through nerikomi

The technique of Nerikomi involves layering, cutting, stretching, rotating and reconstructing different types of clay , and the process brings out the beauty of chance and inevitability. This spirit of respecting "natural beauty" resonates with the ideals of the tea ceremony.

The fourth generation master, Suwa Sozan, sees this nerikomi not simply as a way of expressing patterns, but as "the very structure of the universe," such as the creation of stars, the movement of the wind, and the flow of time.
As evidence of this, works such as the "Nerikomi Celadon Tea Bowl - Dawn" and "Star Birth", which were created using the same Nerikomi technique, are peppered with symbols of celestial bodies, dawn, and the galaxy , and this lid rest can certainly be placed within that lineage.

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Artist profile and legacy

Suwa Sozan IV was born in Kyoto in 1970 and was raised under the tutelage of his father, Suwa Sozan III, and his mother, Nakamura Sotetsu XII. He took over as the IV in 2002 and is currently recreating the "Kinuta Celadon" style perfected by the first generation, as well as pursuing innovation in the field of celadon that resonates with modern tea ceremony culture .

Following his mother's teaching that "every piece should have a story," he creates each piece with the feeling of communion between the user and the vessel, and the time that resides within it .

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Conclusion: The Lid as a "Microcosm"

This "Nerikomi Seiji Lid Rest" is a tool that is like a microcosm, with the layers of cosmic time and the rhythms of nature woven into a small vessel. Beyond its simple function of holding a ladle, it has the power to act as a poetic device that gently vibrates the air in the tea room.

Modest yet profound. Quiet yet dynamic.
It can truly be said to be the embodiment of the "beauty of utility" that is the ideal of the tea ceremony .

Through this lid rest, the user will encounter a new landscape and feel a momentary sense of the universe in the palm of their hand.