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For over 35 years, Sawada
Hiroyuki has specialized in the production of ceramic ware made
especially for tea ceremony. An avid practitioner himself, he
finds particular inspiration in works from the 16th century - a time when tea ceremony, also called sadō or
chanoyu, was reaching the apex of his development. As a
result, his clay creations are grounded in the aesthetics of tea
culture and resonate with Zen spirituality.
Iga ware (Iga-yaki) is one member in Mr. Sawada's ceramic making repertoire. Born in Mie
Prefecture (central Japan) in the late 7th century, Iga
became popular among the busho-chajin, or warrior tea men, who found
its rustic tenor complimentary with the aesthetics of chanoyu.
Iga-yaki goes
through a rigorous transformation inside the kiln. Fired at 1350°C
(2460°F), pots become peppered when superheated grains
of feldspar in the clay burst through their earthen bed. Heat change
gradations and other yōhen (kiln changes) markings are the incidental
effects which gives Iga its individual character, ensuring that no two
pieces are ever the same.
Although Iga is traditionally fired in large, wood burning kilns, Sawada
Hiroyuki has developed a technique which takes advantage of his close
proximity to Kurokawa charcoal. By packing a smaller oil-fired
kiln with the dense, obsidian wood, a thick cloud of embers swirls around
inside the kiln, enveloping pots with a natural glaze of vitrified ash
called biidoro - from the Portuguese word for glass. As a
result, his Iga pots are a fluid collage of amber falls, emerald
pastures and scorched earth.
Mr.
Sawada proudly displays his rendition of Iga in this striking tea
ceremony bowl. Deftly formed and perfectly balanced, it exhibits
all of Iga's dynamic character in one magnificent vessel.
See
Sawada Hiroyuki's
2009 Hankyu exhibition for more works from his recent collection.
A wooden presentation box will be custom made to order and signed by
the artist. Delivery time for this item is 3 weeks.
A fukusa (display cloth) is
included.
special care instructions |
