Nara-e tea bowl by Rakusai Onishi

Width: 14.4cm Height: 6.9cm

Onishi Rakusai's Nara-e tea bowl is a bowl that lightly crystallizes the earthy taste of the Momoyama period and the elegance of Nara-e. The brilliant colors that unfold in bands on the white coating give it a sense of movement, as if a picture scroll had been rolled up, and it combines the functionality of a matcha bowl with a narrative quality. Below, we will introduce its appeal from five different aspects.

1. Shape and clay

The bowl has a neat shape with a slightly narrow base, and the bowl widens gently from the inside to the rim, allowing the tea whisk to rotate naturally and create fine bubbles. The clay used for the bowl is rough and iron-rich, and the spots and scorches that appear during firing create a "wabi" look. The bare earth is exposed on the lower outside, and the rough texture is reminiscent of the roughness of Momoyama pottery.

2. Glaze tone and color design

The entire base is covered in a pale white coating, and then a transparent glaze is applied on top, resulting in a soft look with a warm cream color shining through the white base. The indigo blue gosu belt around the shoulders visually tightens the vessel, and its complementary color relationship with the green of the matcha creates a striking contrast. The rust-colored iron glaze around the rim acts as a "frame" that enhances the saturation of the overglaze.

3. The narrative nature of Narae design

The Nara paintings on the white strips represent three elements that symbolize the imperial culture of the ancient capital of Nara:

A pavilion for court nobles <br data-start="579" data-end="582">A nobleman in a crimson robe stands behind the blinds as if listening to gagaku music, bringing the elegance of the Heian period to the tea ceremony.

Evergreen Pine and Plum <br data-start="643" data-end="646">The pine represents immutability and longevity, while the red and white dots of the plum symbolize rebirth and the heraldry of spring, creating an air of festivity all year round.

The Clown Musician <br data-start="704" data-end="707">The musician (or Bugaku performer) who appears at the end of the obi suggests a musical rhythm to the tea ceremony, and the story progresses with each turn of the tea bowl.

Onishi Rakusai lightly depicts these motifs using extremely fine iron lines and Japanese paints such as copper green, cinnabar, and yellow ochre, creating a sense of continuity reminiscent of a picture scroll.

4. Technical ingenuity

Two-layer makeup and wiping off <br data-start="878" data-end="881">In order to intentionally allow the rough surface of the clay to show through thinly, a technique is used in which a white makeup is applied and then partially wiped off with a sponge. This creates a mysterious scene reminiscent of a plain with snow still remaining on it.

The view of layered firing <br data-start="977" data-end="980">Faint traces of the layered firing remain on the inside, subtly retaining the "kiln marks" so beloved by tea masters.

Durability of the overglaze <br data-start="1038" data-end="1041">The piece is fired after painting, so the colors sink into the glaze just enough to prevent fading even with years of use.

5. Functional beauty at the tea ceremony

The pure white glaze on the inside is bright, and the jade color of the matcha tea shines like a mirror. The blue of the gosu belt, the green of the matcha tea, and the vermilion, green, and yellow of the exterior create an impromptu color harmony when held in the hand, enhancing the visual effect at the moment of presenting it to a guest. In addition, the light weight and low center of gravity make it easy to handle, and it is practical as it does not slip easily on the cloth.

The "wabi" of rough clay and the "elegance" of Narae painting. The skillful integration of these two different aesthetic sensibilities with the gosu belt and iron rim is the true charm of Narae tea bowls by Onishi Rakusai. When placed at a tea ceremony, guests will unravel the story as they turn the bowl, savoring the contrast between the clay surface and the colored painting, and will enjoy a "journey through time and space" that unfolds within the bowl.

A conversation with Rakusai Onishi