White Porcelain Firefly Constellation Tea Cup Scorpio Sagittarius Suwa Sozan

Width: 12.7cm Height: 6.7cm

This work, "White Porcelain Hotarude Constellation Tea Bowl," is a masterpiece that embodies the fantastical and lyrical endeavors of the fourth generation Suwa Sozan. It is a work that captures the scene of the constellations shining in the night sky in a single bowl using the "Hotarude" technique that makes use of the transparency and translucency of porcelain. The star dots that appear on the surface are not just decoration, but are a copy of the actual constellation arrangement. By applying a thin layer of color to it, it creates a soft glow and a narrative quality that is not found in monochromatic porcelain expression.

What is Hotarute? An explanation of the technique

"Hotarude" is a porcelain decoration technique that originated in Jingdezhen during the Ming Dynasty in China, in which openwork is carved into the porcelain body, glazed over it and fired, allowing dots and patterns to appear through the light. At first glance, the openwork is hidden by the thickness of the vessel, but its presence becomes apparent when light shines through it, giving it a very poetic beauty.

Suwa Sozan has reconstructed this traditional hotarude technique with a modern sensibility, elevating it to a unique style of drawing constellations with a series of dots. In this work, "Scorpio" and "Sagittarius" are placed in symbolic positions, and each star shines quietly with color.

The wonderful colors and composition of the stars

The inside of the small holes made by the firefly hand is coated with a transparent glaze in pale pink, indigo, yellow-green, or wisteria, and when light hits it, colorful stars appear faintly. The colors are by no means vivid, but are expressed as if they shift depending on the whiteness of the porcelain base and the amount of light, and the moment you touch the tea bowl, you get the illusion of holding the night sky in your hand.

In particular, the size, distance, and overlap of the stars that make up the constellations have been handled with meticulous care, and one can sense a deep understanding of the structure of celestial maps. This is not simply an artistic expression, but a kind of cosmic poetry that encapsulates astronomical structures in a vessel.

The characteristics of white porcelain and its form

The entire vessel rises gently from a high base, forming a neat bowl shape that opens slightly towards the rim. This silhouette is suitable for making matcha tea, yet it also feels comfortable in the hand and is a beautiful way to guide the eye. The pure white porcelain surface is the result of the blending and firing control that Suwa Sozan has honed over many years, and while it has a subdued shine, it also has a clean look and a gentle reflection of light.

The outlines of the constellations hand-carved seem to blend into the smooth surface of the white porcelain, revealing their presence subtly in the daylight and softly in the light of night.

The customization of individual constellations and the universality of the work

A constellation associated with your birthday, a constellation that records your relationship with a loved one, or a constellation that tells a personal story - each one can be created as a unique piece to suit your wishes.

The tea bowl completed in this way is no longer just a vessel, but a special object that contains an individual's time, memories and even a view of the universe.

Conclusion: Holding the Universe in a Vessel

The "White Porcelain Hotarude Constellation Tea Bowl" is a poetic and intimate tea bowl that is based on the diverse technical accumulation of blue porcelain, white porcelain, nerikomi, and hotarude that the fourth generation Suwa Sozan has built up. The hotarude technique captures the light of the stars, and the tranquil skin of the white porcelain gently embraces it - this vessel represents countless stories and the common human longing for the night sky.

It is a small window through which we can encounter the universe within the limited space and time of the tea ceremony, a vessel of light that quietly connects people with the stars.

It is also possible to have your favorite constellation engraved on it. If you would like to do so, please contact Amagimichi.