One blue porcelain wheel Masao Tagai

Width: 9cm x 9cm Height: 11.3cm

Celadon single flower (Seiji Ichirin) by Masao Tagai

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1. Overview of the work

This piece is covered in a pale "rain-filled blue" glaze, reminiscent of the clear sky after rain, and is a vase with a free-form shape reminiscent of natural stone. The body was intentionally crushed during the wheel-throwing process, and then hand-twisted to create unevenness, creating organic shadows reminiscent of the undulating rock surface and traces of water droplets. The rim is intentionally left irregular, and the silver-gray iron rim peeks out from under the thin glaze, giving a reverberating outline to the tranquil blue world.

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2. Shape and design

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3. Glaze and firing techniques

Blue color after rain
He adjusts the iron powder , fires the piece at a high temperature, and then switches to an oxidizing atmosphere only at the end of the firing process, called "reduction drop." This produces a clear blue color without any reddish tinge, and creates a slight milky layer inside the glaze, giving it depth.

Ice cracks, cracks and iron spots <br data-end="685" data-start="682">The difference in the expansion coefficient between the clay and the glaze layer is kept extremely small, suppressing noticeable cracks, while glaze pools form in the recesses, causing small cracks and iron spots to appear. Over the years, water from flowers and moisture in the air will cause a haze to form, and the scenery will develop.

Mirror Finish <br data-end="799" data-start="796">After firing, we apply a low-temperature reduction heater to re-melt the surface of the glaze, resulting in a soft reflection and a moist luster that feels like it clings to your hand.

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4. Aesthetic intent and historical background

By layering randomness and unnatural movement on the refined serenity of celadon, Masao Tagai has been expressing "vitality residing in stillness" in recent years. Based on the subtle blue of Song Dynasty Longquan kilns, he has interpreted the "wabi (a style of appreciating the scenery)" nurtured by Japanese tea pottery in a modern way, elevating it to a form reminiscent of natural stone.

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5. Flower arrangement and decoration

In the tokonoma, the vessels are placed on a black lacquered stand or old wood board and slanted light is shone on them to highlight the uneven shadows, making the vessels' appearance stand out even more.

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6. Points to note when viewing

Flickering light reflected on the unevenness <br data-end="1404" data-start="1401">When light shines on it at an angle, the reflection flickers like the surface of water, and the shade of the blue glaze changes from moment to moment.

The iron rim and iron dots give it a refined look . The black dots on the rim and body tighten the blue, gently evoking the appearance of antique celadon.

Growing Scenery <br data-end="1522" data-start="1519">The crazing will fade with the passage of time and the flower water, and the vessel will change, breathing along with its owner.

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7. Conclusion

This piece, "Seido Ichirin," is a vessel that exudes a "living landscape" where the serenity of the clear blue, the dynamism of the hand-twisted work, and the wabi of the iron rim and iron dots coexist. Simply inserting a single flower will bring a breath of fresh air into the space, and the process by which the surface of the vessel changes gently over the years will be engraved into your own story. Please use it for many years to come and enjoy the changing of the celadon along with the flowers of the four seasons.