Tenmoku glaze cylindrical tea bowl by Okada Yu

Width: 11.4cm Height: 7.7cm

Tenmoku glaze cylindrical tea bowl by Okada Masaru - "A cylindrical scene filled with night stardust and gently embracing the mountain breeze"

A jet-black cylinder that reflects the starlight

The Tenmoku glaze that covers this piece is a deep lapis lazuli black with tiny crystals like silver sand scattered throughout, making it seem as if the silent night sky has been sealed within the vessel's walls. Whenever the soft light hits it, the twinkling stars flicker, drawing the eye deep into the vessel. A soft reddish-purple appears on the rim, a remnant of the reduction flame, adding a subtle warmth to the darkness.

The double body creates a band of shadows

Two circular steps run around the cylindrical body, forming a band of shadow. These subtle undulations naturally rest on the fingers when picked up, providing a stable grip. At the same time, light flows along the steps, creating a rhythmic gradation on the jet-black glaze surface, adding a dynamic look to the tranquil form.

The sparkle of silver sand shakes the tranquility

After glazing, the bowl is fired in a wood-fired kiln at high temperatures to precipitate iron, and depending on the angle, a silvery light resembling thin ice appears. When brewing thick tea, starlight appears among the bubbles, and when brewing thin tea, the pale green of the bowl blends together like the gradation of the night sky, adding a poetic touch to the tea ceremony.

Functional beauty of a cylindrical shape that fits in the palm of your hand

The upright walls of a cylindrical tea bowl prevent bubbles from splashing around even when the chasen is submerged deeply, stabilizing the tea ceremony. The slightly lower base stabilizes the center of gravity and makes it easy to turn with your fingertips. The slightly outward-curved rim makes the bowl smooth and gently rests on the drinker's lips.

Respect for tradition and new ventures

Okada Masaru has combined the ancient Tenmoku glaze, which originated from the Jianzhan tea bowl of the Song dynasty, with the gentle sense of form he cultivated at Gojozaka in Kiyomizu and the dynamism of the natural surroundings of the coal mines in Uji. The double-body structure evokes the layers of clouds in the night sky, and the sparkle of the fine crystals resembles stardust stirred up by the mountain winds. This piece, which is based on tradition but also exudes a unique poetic sentiment, goes beyond its practical use as a tea bowl and expands the viewer's imagination to unlimited extents.

This Tenmoku glaze cylindrical tea bowl embodies both the depth of night and the brilliance of stardust. As the shadows shift in your palm, it will evoke images of tranquil mountain scenery and the gentle breeze, bringing a mysterious story to your tea ceremony.

A conversation with Masaru Okada