Kokuko-de Ki-Seto Tea Bowl

Ceramics

Craft Artist: Yu Nishioka

ORIGIN: Ena, Gifu Prefecture
RELEASE: 2022
SIZE: Φ121 × H86 mm
MATERIAL: Clay

Embodiment of the black fox

Yu Nishioka is a ceramic artist fascinated by Mino ware, especially that of Ki-Seto of the Momoyama period (1573 – 1603), and challenging himself to reach that level of artistry. He has been uncompromising in pursuit of his vision, and is passionate in his devotion to finding the best soil in the mountains, using local raw materials, and diligently researching the best ashes for glazing and the best firing techniques.

His recently released new work, “Kokuko-de Ki-Seto Tea Bowl” is a unique style resulting from his attempt to fuse Ki-Seto and Raku ware. The Ki-Seto that Yu is aiming for is a very difficult one, characterized by a subdued luster called aburage-hada (literally, “fried tofu skin”), but the texture of this work, which looks as if it has been slowly baked and browned, is very tasteful. The black color that blurs the inside and outside of the bowl does not cancel out the gentle texture inherent to Ki-Seto, but rather complements it.

Since ancient times, the black fox has been a symbol of peace in Japan, its appearance heralding the coming of the peaceful world. The artist named this tea bowl “Kokuko-de,” or “Black fox style,” to honor the elements of Raku ware and its appearance. It carries a deep prayer for peace.

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Aburage-de
- Technique
One of the glaze styles of Ki-Seto ware. It has little luster and a texture similar to deep fried tofu. Also called ayame-de (iris style).
Raku ware
- Generic term
Raku ware is a type of glazed pottery shaped by hand without using a potter’s wheel and fired at low temperatures. It includes sub-types such as Aka-Raku (Red Raku), Kuro-Raku (Black Raku), Shiro-Raku (White Raku), and others. Raku ware is said to have been first created under the guidance of Sen no Rikyu, and although it often refers specifically to pottery produced by generations of the Raku family, in a broader sense it refers to all ceramics produced using the same technique.
Ki-Seto
- Generic term
- Technique
A type of Mino ware created during the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1573 – 1603). It is characterized by a pale yellow glaze, and is often decorated with line carvings and floral motifs, as well as mottled patterns in green caused by copper sulfate called tanpan, and in brown caused by iron. It uses two types of glazes: one transparent and shiny called “Kiku-zara-de” (chrysanthemum plate) or “Guinomi-de” (sake cup), and the other moist like fried bean curd called “Ayame-de” (iris) or “Aburage-de” (deep fried tofu).
Mino ware
- Generic term
A general term for ceramics fired in the Tono region of Gifu Prefecture. A wide variety of types exist, with four major representative styles – Ki-Seto, Seto-guro, Shino, and Oribe – together called Mino-Momoyama ware. As time went on, the production of finer porcelain also flourished. Even today, Gifu Prefecture is still the largest producer of ceramics in Japan, producing about half of the country’s ceramics.

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