Deer incense holder by Rakusai Onishi

Width: 8.0cm x 4.0cm Height: 7.4cm

Deer incense container (Shika-kogo) by Onishi Rakusai

--Hold the mysterious presence of Nara's sacred deer in the palm of your hand--

1. Overview of the work

This deer-shaped incense holder was created by Onishi Rakusai, a successor to Nara's Akahada ware. Its plump body and long neck, as if lifting its tail, create a striking pose reminiscent of the cry of a female deer echoing through the mountains. It is made in two parts, top and bottom, with the body acting as the lid and the hollow inside the body to hold the incense wood.

2. Form and design

The spirit of the figure <br data-start="235" data-end="238">Five white spots reminiscent of a young fawn are placed on the back, and the contrast with the soft yellow-beige skin-colored glaze expresses the freshness of a young fawn. The movement of holding its head high is reminiscent of the distant cry of a deer calling to its mate on the autumn peaks, adding a seasonal charm to the tea ceremony.

Painting of the details <br data-start="355" data-end="358">The mane and hooves are given a deep blackish brown color using iron glaze, providing a firm accent to the warm and elegant base color. The pale yellow glaze that covers the entire piece gives it a gentle luster derived from tussah ash, with a subtle hint of the soft reddish color of the "akahada clay" that is unique to Akahada ware.

3. Techniques and characteristics of Akahada ware

Akahada ware was first produced in Yamatokoriyama, Nara, in the early Edo period, and is known for the master craftsman Okuda Mokuhaku's mastery of a wide range of techniques that he perfected towards the end of the Edo period. Its greatest feature is the use of white paint, iron painting, and colored painting, sublimating the elegance of Nara-e and Yamato-e painting into tea ware. The Onishi Rakusai Kiln follows in this tradition, and its charming painting and warm, earthenware colors have earned it the nickname "Mahoroba tea ware."

4. Cultural background of the deer motif

Deer have been a symbol of Nara since ancient times as messengers of the gods of Kasuga Taisha Shrine, and are mentioned in the Manyoshu and Kokin Wakashu as heralding the arrival of autumn. In the tea ceremony, deer incense containers were used in the "Nagori no Chaji" (Lingering Tea Ceremony) leading up to the autumn Kuchikiri ceremony, creating a style of evoking the tranquil scenery of the mountains and fields into the room. The white spots on this piece represent a fawn born in early summer, but its raised head and crowing evoke the solitude of autumn, making it an exquisite expression that can be used across seasons.

5. Onishi Rakusai's approach to pottery making

Onishi Rakusai (Yatsushiro) believes in "recreating Nara paintings, not just copying them," and he creates designs that embody the spirituality of the land, such as deer, chrysanthemums, and autumn leaves, with a gentle glaze that blends well into modern kitchens. He uses clay from Mt. Akahada that he himself digs, and as he says, "the taste of the clay is the breath of the vessel," he carefully determines the iron and lime content of the material and blends the glaze accordingly. He values ​​the warmth of the piece when held in the hand by firing at a low temperature, allowing the soft clay to breathe.

6. Arrangements at tea ceremonies

Season : Perfect for mid-autumn tea ceremonies and morning tea ceremonies during frosty weather.

Set of tools : Scroll "A deer cries as it treads through autumn leaves deep in the mountains..." Autumn flowers are arranged in a vase with some difference in height, and an incense holder is placed on the hearth or on a shelf in the center of a thin tea ceremony room.

Incense : The subtle sweetness of the deer is accentuated by using pieces of aloeswood or incense paste with a hint of musk.

This masterpiece condenses the gentleness and solitude of Nara's sacred deer into a palm-sized piece. The warm and elegant red glaze and simple sketching ability that are unique to Onishi Rakusai, combined with the incense smoke that drifts the moment the lid of the incense holder is opened, create a subtle and tranquil atmosphere of wabi. It is perfect not only for tea ceremonies, but also as a floor decoration or ornament for Boys' Day, gently conveying the changing seasons and the scenery of Nara.