White glazed tea bowl Yu Okada

Width: 13.4cm x 12.8cm Height: 9.0cm

White glazed tea bowl by Okada Masaru - "Light snow falls, quietly enveloping the red clay of the earth."

The gentleness of white glaze and the history of the tea ceremony

White-glazed tea bowls originated in China during the Song dynasty, and in Japan, a unique aesthetic sense was cultivated with Shino ware during the Momoyama period. Tea masters since Sen no Rikyu have found in white the beauty of wabi (traditional Japanese beauty) and white space, as a background color that most beautifully reflects the green of matcha, and have invited a quiet light into the tea ceremony. This work is a bowl that takes this historical trend into consideration while being reinterpreted with a modern sensibility.

Soft form and design

Fluctuating rim <br data-end="283" data-start="280">The slightly distorted hexagonal waves soften the feel on the mouth and scatter light depending on the angle from which you view it.

V-shaped pattern on the body <br data-end="343" data-start="340">The successive V-shaped patterns engraved on the side evoke the traces of wind blowing across mountain ridges, and the varying shades of glaze create gentle shadows.

Warikodai (relatively high ground)
The red soil peeks out from the crescent-shaped cut into the hill, creating a powerful impression like a lump of earth peeking out from under the white snow.

Changes in scenery brought about by firing

The flames of the kiln paint a pale grey scene on the surface of the white glaze, with black dots appearing here and there that resemble charcoal grains on the snow. Ash naturally falls on the rim, creating a faint burnt colour. This one-of-a-kind scene of overlapping flames and ash will only deepen with the passage of time.

Artist's thoughts

The scenery of Kiyomizu-Gojozaka in Kyoto and the misty mountains of Sumiyama in Uji. Okada Masaru's motto is to "capture" these familiar landscapes in his vessels, and he has entrusted the story of "snow, frost, and earth" to the contrast between the white and red clay. The sharp V-shaped lines represent the wind blowing through, and the black dots represent the shadows of the trees. This bowl has a quiet yet distinct presence.

Conclusion

The white glaze tea bowl , which resonates with the warmth of the red clay and the light snow-like white glaze, reveals a new scene every time you turn it in your palm, adding a clear, lingering impression to the "once-in-a-lifetime encounter" of the tea ceremony. Please treasure it for a long time and enjoy the changing shades that deepen over time.