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Tenmoku holds an honored position in the history
and development of tea ceremony in Japan. Tenmoku bowls were first
introduced in the 13th century by Buddhist monks returning from their
studies in China. They were highly regarded among the Ashikaga
shogun, warriors as well as avid tea practitioners, who used them
extensively in the then-evolving art of chanoyu, or Japanese
tea ceremony.
Through constant experimentation, Kamada Kōji has elevated tenmoku to an even higher level of refinement with the introduction
of several signature glazes, each one adding another facet to the
incredible diversity of his art.
Yōhen shikō is one of the proud new members to his glazing
repertoire. It debuted at Mr. Kamada's annual Kyoto Takashimaya
Department Store exhibition in 2007 and was well received by the
public. One particular yōhen shikō tea ceremony bowl (view
here) attracted quite a lot of excited admiration with its
celestial aura and became the incidental centerpiece for the showing.
Since that time, it has taken several months of trial and error before
the same brilliant yōhen effects and trademark purple (shikō) halo
could be rendered on pots with more consistency, and the results of
Mr. Kamada's tireless efforts are now proudly on display here.
This tea ceremony bowl (chawan) is also done in yōhen shikō.
Heat within the kiln served as the catalyst for a complex reaction
between wood ash, iron oxide and the minerals in the clay body. The
results are transcendent. Like a veiny moth's wing in the sunlight,
it radiates blended hues of bronze and purple with hints of blue.
When filled with whipped matcha green tea, the harmonious
colors are simply breathtaking.
The body is skillfully formed to an exacting thinness and perfectly
balanced. Its wide brim allows matcha to cool more rapidly, making
this piece more suited for summer tea ceremonies.
It is a treasure
for any collector with an interest in chanoyu.
See
Kamada Kōji's
40th Year Commemorative Exhibition for more works from his 2008
collection.
A wooden presentation box will be custom made to order and signed by
the artist. Delivery time for this item is 2 weeks.
A fukusa (display cloth) is included.
special care instructions |
