Iga Variegated Luster Matcha Bowl

This artful Iga ware matcha bowl, crafted by artisan Fukushima Kazuhiro, exemplifies his exceptional skill and distinctive aesthetic vision. The clay body possesses an honest, substantial presence, raw and sincere as earth itself. A glassy glaze flows across the surface with remarkable spontaneity, creating a captivating tension between weight and refinement.

Though the rim appears to undulate irregularly, each curve is deliberate. After throwing on the wheel, Fukushima studies the vessel from every angle, identifying its most expressive face. There, he introduces carefully considered distortions that enhance the form's character while ensuring comfort at the lip. The foot ring is carved approximately one day later, its height determined by the bowl's proportions and inherent rhythm. These meticulous steps reveal not merely technical prowess but imbue the piece with an almost animate quality.

At the center of the bowl lies a pool of deep green, clear and luminous like a mountain spring. This effect is created by the gathering of vidro glaze, which, under high heat, gradually spreads and fractures into fine crackle lines. The result evokes the surface of water touched by wind or the shifting face of a landscape, its character changing subtly with the play of light. It is a beauty that feels both serene and inexhaustible.

In this matcha bowl, heft and delicacy coexist. It transcends its function as a tea implement to become an object that compels contemplation and stirs something within. Through the union of fire and clay, one senses the breath of the elements and the maker's intention—a presence that endures.

Fukushima Kazuhiro

Nacido como sucesor de la octava generación del horno Mukai, que ha prosperado en Iga durante más de tres siglos, Fukushima Kazuhiro crea obras cerámicas que combinan la presencia profunda de la tierra con la belleza translúcida del esmalte vidro y la distintiva textura agrietada kairagi . Aunque profundamente arraigado en la tradición, su trabajo abraza una sensibilidad contemporánea, transformando los patrones aparentemente accidentales formados por el fuego, la arcilla y la ceniza en expresiones deliberadas de arte. A través de este proceso, Fukushima abre nuevos horizontes para la cerámica Iga, infundiendo a cada pieza una individualidad y vida impactantes.

Iga Ware

Iga ware, produced in the Iga region of Mie Prefecture, is celebrated for its deep roots in Japanese ceramic history and its distinctive character. With a lineage stretching back some 1,200 years, Iga ware rose to prominence during the Momoyama period (1573–1615 CE), when it became closely tied to the aesthetics of the tea ceremony.

As a form of traditional Japanese pottery, Iga ware is admired for its robust clay, earthy texture, and the organic beauty that emerges through various firing methods. The natural ash glazing and translucent green, glass-like vidro effects created by the intense heat of the kiln reveal the expressive artistry that defines Iga ware.