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Tenmoku glaze sake bottle by Okada Masaru

Tenmoku glaze sake bottle by Okada Masaru

¥35,200
¥35,200
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Width: 8.5cm Height: 12.4cm

Tenmoku glazed sake bottle by Okada Masaru - "A pale pink ridgeline rippling against the lapis lazuli black of moon clouds - a small Tenmoku that illuminates an evening drinking party."

Overview of the work

This elegant sake bottle fits comfortably in the palm of your hand. The Tenmoku glaze, inherited from the Jianzhan style of the Song dynasty, shimmers silver-blue behind the black lapis lazuli. The five-layered carving around the body of the bottle reveals a faint pink "fire mark" left by the reduction flame at each section, evoking the dawn light shining on the mountain shadows. The mouth is elegantly curved outwards, allowing for easy pouring and a comfortable grip. This versatile vessel is suitable for both cold and hot sake.

Tenmoku glaze and kiln changes

Silver-blue Stardust <br data-start="591" data-end="594">Tiny iron crystals turn into silver sand, which twinkles in the darkness, picking up the faint light.

Pale pink fire <br data-start="641" data-end="644">The reddish-purple that dwells on the ridges of each tier adds warmth to the darkness, changing its appearance with the temperature of the sake.

Pear-skin texture <br data-start="691" data-end="694">The surface has a matte and glossy finish that is pleasant to the touch and prevents the temperature of the alcohol from escaping.

History and the author's perspective

Black-glazed sake vessels continue the lineage of the "aesthetics of darkness" pioneered by Momoyama Oribe and Setoguro ware. Okada Masaru combines the techniques of Gojozaka in Kiyomizu with the night air of Sumiyama in Uji, sublimating Tenmoku glaze into modern sake vessels. The five layers represent layers of clouds crossing the mountain ridge, the silver-blue represents starlight, and the pale pink represents the signs of dawn. The more you drink, the more the story of the sky changing from night to morning unfolds within the sake cup.

Conclusion

This Tenmoku glaze sake bottle features deep black lapis lazuli and moon clouds layered on top of it. With each pour, the ridges cast a shadow, and the silver-blue color gently sways around the rim of the sake cup. Please keep this sake bottle with you for many years to come, as it will envelop your drinking time in the poetry of the night sky.

Biography
Born in Kiyomizu-Gojo, Kyoto
After working as a trainee at the Kyoto Prefectural Pottery Training School Molding Department and the Kyoto Municipal Industrial Research Institute
Studied pottery techniques for three years under Kozo Kawashima, a member of the Sodeisha Society
In 1987, he became independent and built a kiln in Sumiyama, Uji City.
Since 2018, he has been a judge at the Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition.
2022 Japan Traditional Crafts Ceramics Division Exhibition, Judge

<Major selected works>
Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Japanese Ceramic Art Exhibition
Kikuchi Biennale,
Contemporary Tea Ceremony Exhibition
Chozo Prize Ceramic Art Exhibition, Ceramic Art Exhibition,
Mashiko Pottery Exhibition,
Itami International Craft Exhibition
Hagi Grand Prize Exhibition,
Kobe Biennale
Contemporary Ceramic Art Competition, etc.

<Major Awards>
1998: Northern Confectionery Tableware Exhibition (Excellent Award)
2002, Kyoto Ware and Kiyomizu Ware Exhibition (KBS Kyoto Broadcasting Award)
2003, Bonsai Pottery Exhibition (Encouragement Award)
2008, Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition (Nikkei Shimbun Award)
2009, Otaki Hokkai Live Pottery Exhibition (NHK Broadcasting Award)
2010, Otaki Hokkai Live Pottery Exhibition (Hokkaido Shimbun Award)
2012 Kyoto Art and Craft Biennale (Grand Prize)
2013, Japan Traditional Crafts Ceramics Division Exhibition (Japan Crafts Association Award)
Kobe Biennale Contemporary Ceramic Art Exhibition (Second Prize)
2014: Invited to exhibit at the Gwangju Biennale
2016, Osaka Crafts Exhibition (Arts and Crafts Grand Prize)
2019 Osaka Crafts Exhibition (Second Prize)
2022, Arita International Ceramics Exhibition (Grand Prize, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award), etc.

Currently, he is a full member of the Japan Crafts Association and a member of the Ceramic Art Association.

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