Blue porcelain silver handmade water finger Suwa Sozan

Width: 16.4cm Height: 16.4cm

Ⅰ. Work overview

This "Celadon Ginkan Water Jar" was designed by Suwa Sozan IV, modeled on the Kinuta Celadon of Longquan Kiln in the Southern Song Dynasty, and is inspired by the mythical image of the Milky Way, or "Ginkan." As you can see in the photo, the body is a plump egg shape and the lid projects almost horizontally, evoking the tranquility of a galaxy floating in the night sky. While inheriting the clear jade color of the "Sozan Celadon" perfected by the first Suwa Sozan , the subtle shades of light flickering deep within the thick glaze create a mysterious landscape like a nebula on the surface of the vessel.

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II. Shape and form

Egg-shaped body

The body is designed to be fullest at the top and taper gently towards the bottom. This volume stabilizes the temperature of the water inside, and has the advantage of preventing the water from becoming warm during tea ceremonies.

Low platform and center of gravity design

The base is kept at a modest height and stands straight without bowing outwards, which keeps the center of gravity low when filled with water, improving ease of handling and stability.

Flat lid and handle

The lid is flat and slightly curved outwards, with a thin layer of glaze pooling around the edge, making the jade color shine even more intensely. The handle is hemispherical, reminiscent of a flower bud, and is sized so that the fingertips fit naturally. It has been designed to ensure that opening and closing the jar is done with a beautiful gesture.

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III. Glaze Tone - Jadeite color that embodies the story of "Ginkan"

The clarity of Sozan Celadon <br data-end="710" data-start="707">The trace amounts of iron (about 1%) contained in both the clay and glaze are converted to FeO during reduction firing, giving the porcelain a transparent blue-green color. The thick glaze causes light to be reflected multiple times within the glaze layer, giving the surface a soft glow like mica light.

Shades reminiscent of a nebula <br data-end="832" data-start="829">At the widest point of the body, the glaze is about 1.4 mm thick, causing slight pools of color. This evokes the dark belt of the galaxy, and gives the entire vessel the depth of a quiet night sky.

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Ⅳ. Ginkan: The historical and literary background behind the name

The myth of the Hanshui and the Milky Way

In ancient China, it was believed that the Han River, the largest tributary of the Yangtze River, rose to the heavens and became the Milky Way. This was called the Ginkan River, and is said to be the Milky Way that Altair and Vega cross in the Tanabata legend.

The Galaxy in the Tea Ceremony

In the tea ceremony, it has been popular since ancient times to combine utensils with a galaxy or star motif in honor of Tanabata and the harvest moon. Based on this tradition, this piece is designed to be the perfect water jar for a summer evening or mid-autumn tea ceremony, by overlaying the image of a nebula over the tranquil colors of the celadon.

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V. Functional beauty and tea ceremony

Scenery on the Water Surface <br data-end="1538" data-start="1535">When water is poured into the water jar, the inside of the body is slightly visible through the thick glaze, and the water surface turns into a jade-colored mirror. During the tea ceremony, the Ginkan no tale flickers every time water is scooped with the ladle, adding a poetic atmosphere to the tea ceremony.

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Artist profile and creative philosophy

Suwa Sozan IV (born in Kyoto in 1970) was trained by Suwa Sozan III and lacquer artist Nakamura Sotetsu XII, and took over the name of the IV in 2002. With celadon as his mainstay, he has deepened his scientific approach with nerikomi celadon, hotaru-de, and tobi-seiji, and upholds the philosophy that "a story is contained in a piece, and it is completed by interacting with the user's heart." In this piece, he has encapsulated the epic story of "a great river rising to the heavens and becoming a galaxy" in the tranquil celadon glaze.

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Conclusion

The "Celadon Ginkan Water Jar" is a masterpiece that reflects the eternal light of the galaxy in the serenity of jade color. While faithfully replicating the tradition of Southern Song Longquan Kiln Kinuta Celadon, by overlaying the ancient Chinese Ginkan mythology, it has been sublimated into a tool that invites a poetic universe into the tea ceremony. The moment the lid is opened and the ladle is inserted into the water, the light flickering inside the vessel is reminiscent of the sparkling Milky Way, drawing a vast night sky in the viewer's mind. This work, which is the fruit of the 4th generation Suwa Sozan 's refined sense of form and glaze control, will enrich the theme of the tea ceremony and bring about a special time where tranquility and grandeur coexist.