Blue porcelain vase (small) Suwa Sozan

Width: 10.0cm Height: 20.0cm

This "Small Celadon Turnip Vase" is modeled after the Kinuta celadon ware of the Longquan kiln during the Southern Song dynasty. It was created by the fourth generation Suwa Sozan , who inherited the glaze color of "Sozan celadon," which the first generation Suwa Sozan perfected over a period of 25 years. As you can see in the photo, the body is plump and rounded, and the elegant lines that taper from the shoulders to the neck capture the sensuous figure of a turnip. Its small, low height makes it easy to display on a shelf or in a small alcove, adding a tranquil elegance to a tea ceremony.

molding

Turnip-shaped body

The body is almost a perfect sphere, tapering slightly at the base before connecting to the base. When filled with water, the center of gravity naturally drops, increasing stability - a practical design.

Flexible neck

The neck that rises from the shoulders curves gently just once at the base before extending straight from there. This creates a contrast between the volume of the torso and the sharpness of the neck, creating a sense of dignified tension throughout.

A dish-shaped opening rim

The rim curves slightly outward, forming a shallow dish, which naturally draws the flowers to the center, and the pool of glaze on the rim reflects the light, casting a rich jade green color, creating a visual focal point.

Glaze Tone - The Depth of "Sozan Celadon"

Jade-green transparency <br data-end="675" data-start="672">The trace amounts of iron (approximately 1%) contained in both the clay and glaze are converted during reduction firing, resulting in a soft blue-green color. As can be seen in the photograph, the glassy substance on the glaze surface has melted evenly, giving it a clarity that gives a sense of depth while still slightly reflecting the light from within.

The beauty of accumulated color <br data-end="812" data-start="809">The glaze is applied a little thicker around the curve of the shoulders and inside the rim, creating a faint shade and gradation. This is inspired by the "shadow blue" pattern seen in Song Dynasty celadon, and the color changes in depth each time the vessel is turned.

Scenery reflected in the water <br data-end="1197" data-start="1194">The thick glaze makes the vessel walls slightly transparent, and the water surface softly reflects the jade green color. The stems of the flowers sway in the water, creating a mysterious scene in which the vessel and flowers become one.

Interacting with Light <br data-end="1282" data-start="1279">When illuminated by the warm light of a lantern or candle, the glazed surface takes on a pale golden-green hue, giving off a faint glow during an evening tea ceremony.

history

The origins of Kabukata

The turnip shape (a round body similar to a gourd) was a favorite shape of Song dynasty literati, and was used for winter green tea ceremonies, symbolizing the vitality hidden in the cold. It is said that in the Longquan kiln, combined with the transparency of the celadon, it exudes an elegant charm reminiscent of a "turnip in the snow."

Restoration and inheritance of Kinuta Celadon

The first Suwa Sozan completed Sozan celadon in 1907 and was acclaimed as an Imperial Household Artist. The fourth Suwa Sozan faithfully adhered to the recipe, while controlling the temperature in the kiln to within ±3°C, allowing him to reproduce a clear blue even in small pieces.

Adaptation to modern tea ceremonies

The small size makes it suitable for small seats or shelf displays in urban areas, and the weight is kept to a level that makes it easy to carry and handle when performing tea ceremonies.

Fourth generation Suwa Sozan

Suwa Sozan IV (born in Kyoto in 1970) received artistic training from Suwa Sozan III and lacquer artist Nakamura Sotetsu XII, and succeeded to the title of fourth generation in 2002. While focusing on celadon, he has developed a wide variety of expressions, including nerikomi techniques, hotaru-de (hot spring) and tobi-seiji (celadon with a long finish), and upholds the philosophy that "a vessel contains a story, and is completed by overlapping with the story of the user." In this piece, he has entrusted "the story of a turnip hiding in the winter soil waiting for spring" to his works, expressing a quiet vitality.

The "Small Celadon Turnip Vase" harmonizes the tranquility of its jadeite color with the soft volume of its turnip shape, making it a masterpiece that brings a gentle sense of calm and tranquility to tea ceremonies and interior decorations. While faithfully recreating the elegance of Southern Song Longquan kiln kinuta celadon, the exquisite sculptural sense and controlled glaze of Suwa Sozan IV give it a lightness that suits modern spaces. The moment flowers are placed in the vase, the depth of the celadon embraces the flower's shadow, bringing a quiet warmth and the budding of hope to the viewer's heart.