ceramic, earthenware
ceramic
earthenware
decorative-art
Dimensions 2 5/8 x 6 1/8 x 5 1/4 in. (6.67 x 15.56 x 13.34 cm)
This "Large Tea Bowl" was crafted by Tsujimura Shirō, and it now resides at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. I want to reach into the kiln and grab it. The subdued palette of grays and greens suggests the quiet of a forest just after the rain. I imagine Tsujimura Shirō, hunched over his wheel, coaxing this form from the earth. The process: a dance of control and chance. The glazes, thick in some places and thin in others, hint at the unpredictable nature of the firing process. See how the colors run and blend—a testament to the alchemical transformation that occurs in the kiln. It reminds me that making things is a conversation with materials. How much can you control, and how much do you let the material lead you? Each mark carries a trace of the maker’s hand, a whisper of intention. It’s as if the artist is saying, "Here, I made this. What do you think?”
Comments
Like many contemporary Japanese ceramists, Tsujimura Shirō produces pottery in a variety of historic styles. This bowl was inspired by the simple bowls first imported from Korea in the 1500s; the Japanese dubbed them ido, or “deep well,” because of their generous proportions, and they became popular for use in the tea ceremony. The potter typically covered the rough clay body with a light-colored slip (a liquid clay that can act as a glaze or paint) before applying a transparent ash glaze. Pieces of sand in the clay broke through the slip in the intense heat of the kiln, creating the mottled coloration and appealing texture that characterize this bowl.
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