Celadon Flower Vase (Shinogi) by Dohachi Takahashi

Width: 9.75cm Height: 20.3cm

The slightly hazy celadon glaze gives off a cool, dignified feeling, and the vertically carved ridges of the porcelain create soft shadows as the light catches them. This vase is the culmination of the unique sculptural sense and advanced celadon techniques of the 9th Takahashi Michihachi. Below, we will introduce its appeal and background in detail from five perspectives.

The rhythm of the curves and ridges reminiscent of drops of water

The continuous curves that flow from the rim to the body evoke the moment when a drop of water falls quietly and expands into a teardrop shape. The body is evenly ridged, and the vertical shadows further tighten the form. The proportions that taper slightly towards the base combine stability and lightness, and when placed on a table, the eye is drawn to the top, making the flowers placed inside stand out.

Ice blue veil and eggshell border

The celadon glaze is made from a blend of feldspar containing only traces of iron, and reduction firing produces a pale blue color reminiscent of ice. A thin layer of glaze pools on the ridges, allowing the white porcelain base to show through slightly, revealing an eggshell-like border that changes appearance from milky white to silvery white depending on the angle of the light. This difference in nuance brings out the distinctive emerald and shadowy blue colors of celadon in a three-dimensional way.

Shinogi's depiction of the Hoben hobby

The ridged pattern is a design that can also be seen on Chinese Song Dynasty porcelain bottles and Goryeo celadon ware, which were introduced to Japan during the Kamakura period. Its continuous ridges evoke the image of ripples on the surface of water, hence the name "water vessel." This piece intentionally leaves the ridges uncarved deeply, leaving a gentle roundness, achieving both the softness of the celadon glaze and modern simplicity. The flower remains the focal point, with the vessel quietly receding into the background—a design that exudes the spirit of wabi.

The wonder of wheel-throwing and uniform carving

After carefully turning the clay on a potter's wheel, carving out the ridges evenly while it is still semi-dry requires delicate techniques to minimize unevenness in thickness. After bisque firing, the piece is dipped in a finely adjusted glaze, and the firing temperature is carefully controlled while switching between oxidation and reduction to achieve a clear glaze surface that does not run along the ridges. The high level of kiln mastership cultivated by the ninth generation is embodied in this clear color and uniform luster.

History - The inheritance of celadon and ridge patterns

Celadon originated in the Ru kilns and official kilns of the Northern Song Dynasty in China, and was incorporated into the Japanese tea ceremony along with the reverence for Chinese goods from the Kamakura to Muromachi periods. Ribbed patterns are also found on the incense bottles and sutra containers revered in Zen temples, and are beloved by high priests and tea masters as symbols of purity and mystery. While known as a prestigious master of Kyoto-style overglaze porcelain, Takahashi Dohachi IX also studied Chinese Yi Dynasty celadon, achieving a refined design that stands out in modern tea rooms and living spaces. This vase, which reinterprets traditional design with a contemporary minimalist approach, is the culmination of his training and aesthetic sense.

The Takahashi Dohachi family has been known as a prestigious Kyoto ware colored enamel family since the late Edo period. The ninth generation master graduated from Kyoto Bunkyo Junior College, majoring in fashion design, and then went on to study molding and research at the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramic Technical College, and further solidified his technical foundation at the Kyoto Industrial Research Institute.

In 1996, he began to study pottery under his father, Dohachi Yashiro, and began making pottery in earnest.

In 2012, he took on the name of the 9th Takahashi Dohachi

His style, which combines the sense of form cultivated through clothing design with the traditional techniques of Kyoto ware, breathes new life into the Dohachika style and displays a refinement that stands out in modern tea ceremony and gallery spaces.

This genuine vase, with its pale blue glaze revealing the ridges of white porcelain, is a "quiet vessel" that, while retaining a cool, moist atmosphere, gently draws out the vitality of the flowers with the rhythm of its ridges. The narrow opening allows the flowers to be arranged naturally, making it easy to present the shape of a single flower or a branch, elegantly showcasing the changing of the seasons. If you place delicate flowers such as daffodils for New Year, dewdrops in summer, or lady's mantles in autumn inside, the cool texture of the celadon will enhance the freshness of the flowers. We hope you will enjoy using this vase for many years to come, and savor the changes that occur over time as the celadon glaze deepens its dialogue with the off-white body, as well as the exquisite beauty of Takahashi Michihachi's work.