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Tenmoku incense burner by Okada Yu

Tenmoku incense burner by Okada Yu

Regular price ¥198,000
Regular price Sale price ¥198,000
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Width: 11.2cm Height: 13.0cm

Tenmoku-yu Incense Burner by Okada Masaru - "Scattering stardust in the pitch black air, the moonlight filtering through the tripod - a small burner that gives off the scent of the breath of the night."


1. Overview of the Work

The iron glaze, developed in a reducing flame, emits a silver-blue faint light from deep within the black lapis lazuli. The stepped cuts on the body and lid are reminiscent of six mountain ridges - the rhythm of night clouds overlapping, and the pale pink flames running along those ridges add warmth to the darkness. The lid handle rises like a slender tower, quietly suggesting a path for incense smoke to rise. The tips of the tripod legs cast shadows on the table, creating a floating sensation, as if incense clouds were rising from beneath the vessel.


2. Shape and Design

The lid knob is a neat, elongated thin handle that fits your fingertips smoothly, allowing you to adjust the charcoal inside the furnace with ease.
Six-tiered body The evenly sculpted tiers create a hierarchical effect of light and shadow. The tiers make it easy to measure the height of the incense ash, allowing you to place the incense wood accurately.
Silver sand in Tenmoku glaze Iron crystals precipitate on the surface, scattering silver ash. In the light of candles and lanterns, it quietly sparkles along with the incense smoke.
Tripod: Small, bag-shaped legs allow the lamp to be slightly raised. This helps prevent heat from building up around the lamp, and creates shadows that emphasize the mysterious look.


3. View of Tenmoku glaze kiln transformation

Silver-gray Stardust : Tiny iron crystals twinkle in response to the light, reminiscent of the night sky.

Pale pink highlights : A slight hint of reddish purple on the ridges of the steps brings a warm pulse to the darkness.

Pear-skin texture : The coexistence of matte and glossy texture conveys a pleasant cool and warm feeling to the hand.


4. A look at the production

Based on the concept of "capturing the landscape in a vessel," Okada Masaru has condensed the night sky and mountain shadows of the charcoal mine into this incense burner. The carved steps represent overlapping ridgelines, the silver sand represents twinkling starlight, and the pale pink flames represent the flames of the wood-fired kiln and the dawn light. When the incense is burned, the smoke turns into a nebula and creeps up the steps, and the shadow of the tripod reflects the phases of the moon - such a quiet story is born.


5. Conclusion

This Tenmoku-yaki incense burner embodies the depth of the night sky and the brilliance of stardust. The burning incense wood shines through the silver-gray glaze, and the flickering smoke brings a mysterious atmosphere to your seat. Please enjoy the overlapping light and incense that changes with each stick for many years to come.

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
Learned pottery techniques for three years under Mr. Kozo Kawashima, a member of the Sodeisha Society.
In 1987, he became independent and established a kiln in Sumiyama, Uji City.
Since 2018, he has been a judge for the Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition.
2022 Japan Traditional Crafts Ceramics Division Exhibition, Judge

<Main winning entries>
Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Japanese Ceramic Art Exhibition
Kikuchi Biennale,
Contemporary Tea Ceremony Exhibition
Chozo Award 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: The Northern Confectionery Utensils Exhibition (Excellent Award)
2002, Kyoto Ware, Kiyomizu Ware Exhibition (KBS Kyoto Broadcasting Award)
2003, Bonsai Pottery Exhibition (Encouragement Award)
2008, Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition (Nikkei Newspaper 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 Ceramic Art 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 Ceramic Exhibition (Grand Prize, Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award), etc.

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