Tetsuyo Tenmoku Tea Bowl

Ceramics

Craft Artist: Nobuyuki Kimura

ORIGIN: Kyoto
SIZE: D143 x H75 mm
MATERIAL: Clay

Light shining on the deep black sea

Tenmoku tea bowls are said to have been introduced to Japan from China during the Kamakura period (1185 – 1333). From its beginnings in the Yohen Tenmoku, national treasures of Japan, the beauty of Tenmoku has attracted many contemporary artists in Japan and abroad who continue to challenge themselves to replicate it.

Born into a family of ceramic artists in Gojo, Kyoto, Nobuyuki Kimura aspires to create elegant and dignified works in the style of the true “Kyoto-jin” (Kyoto native) that he is, and has produced many works with gorgeous and profound colors. He has been working on Tenmoku for several years, and has trialed hundreds of glaze mixtures and firing methods in pursuit of Tenmoku colors that are not only beautiful but uniquely his own.

Like the light of the moon or stars reflected on the surface of the sea at night, the mottled patterns reveal a different radiance each time they are viewed. The way the kodai, or foot that supports the flowing glaze is scraped also shows the artist’s dedication toward ceramic making. This work allows us to enjoy the present stage of this craftsman, who will continue to grow and develop in the future.

RESOURCE

Yuteki Tenmoku
- Classification
A type of Tenmoku fired at the Jian kilns in Fujian province during the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279) in China. Gold and silver flecks like drops of oil appear on the jet-black glaze, with many of them spread over the entire surface of both the interior and exterior of the tea bowl. In addition to the Jian kiln, tea bowls were also fired at the Cizhou kilns in Hebei province during the Song and Yuan dynasties (1271-1367).
Yohen Tenmoku
- Classification
A type of Tenmoku fired at the Jian kilns in Fujian province during the Southern Song dynasty (1127-1279) in China. It is considered to be the finest example of Tenmoku, with a glossy jet black glazed tea bowl with silvery flecks like stars surrounded by blue and iridescent light. Only three bowls meet the definition of true Yohen Tenmoku: one in the collection of Seikado Bunko Art Museum (commonly known as Inaba Tenmoku), one in the collection of Fujita Museum, and one in the collection of Ryuko-in, Daitokuji Temple. All three are considered national treasures of Japan.
Tenmoku
- Classification
The name Tenmoku refers to black glazed tea bowls in general. It is said that the name comes from the fact that it was brought back by a Japanese Zen monk who visited Tenmoku (天目Tiān mù in Mandarin, or “Heaven’s Eye” in English) Mountain in Zhejiang Province, China in the Kamakura period (1185 – 1333). Typical shapes include Tenmoku, Asagao (morning glory), and Togasa (resembling an Asian conical hat). These have been produced in various parts of Japan since the early modern period.
Kodai
- Others
The “foot” of the back of a ceramic vessel. The kodai is considered to be one of the most important features of a vessel. It can be roughly divided into two types: Kezuri Kodai, a “scraped” foot which is carved out after molding, and Tsuke Kodai, an “attached” foot which is molded from clay and attached to the body of the vessel. Depending on the shape of the foot, kodai can be categorized as wa (“ring”), janome (“snake’s eye”), mikazuki (“crescent moon”), wari (“split”), kiri (“cut”), takenofushi (“bamboo joint”), and others.

KOGEI STANDARD Japanese Crafts Online Media

KOGEI STANDARD

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