Tosen Kiln Kozan-ji Temple Choju Giga Kiyomizu Ware Cafe au Lait Mug
Featuring the distinctive “nami-yu” glaze, which is made from the ashes of the Kyoto forest, this mug has a natural base color in yellowish cream-white.
It depicts the famous illustrated scroll named "Choju Giga" which is a caricature picture scroll depicting anthropomorphic animals and their playfulness, dating from the 12th to 13th centuries. These designs from the picture scrolls are designated as a Japanese national treasure in Kozan-ji Temple in Kyoto. Please enjoy these humorous and playful works intricately depicted through Tousen Kiln’s painting techniques.
Founded in 1868 as a Kiyomizu ware wholesaler in Kyoto, Tosen Kiln uses its own blend of soil and glaze, preserving the methods and quality of the works of Nonomura Ninsei, the renowned potter who is said to have established the art of Kyo ware in the 17th century.
The paintwork is done by individual Japanese-style painters, pursuing their own originality and depth beyond the expectations for a mere decoration.
If held with the right hand, we see the picture of wrestling between a frog and a rabbit. The mug is very light, and the handle is stroked by a handwritten line of gold. The lower part of the mug is faintly brushed with gold to portray grass. The other side of the mug depicts a fox enjoying the wrestling, turning the cup around playfully completes the comical scene.
The technique of painting directly on a bisqued plate requires unique skill as paint is quickly absorbed by the clay surface. The art of underglaze painting uses more restraint colors of blue and brown, giving the piece a more subdued impression. As the paint is absorbed under the glaze, the result is the more lucid and transparent finish of the delicate brush work, as opposed to the more solid pigments of overglaze painting. The finishing touch to the mug is a lining of gold. Due to its delicate characteristics, gold can only be applied as an overglaze to truly display its beautiful color.
A lightweight mug with a warm cream white color with hand painted design. You can enjoy the company of playful rabbits, frogs and a fox entertaining your everyday tea or coffee.
Tosen Kiln introduces the timeless techniques of Kiyomizu ware through their delicate hand painting and modeling styles. The intricate paintings on the stoneware breathe warmth and beauty into the pieces and tell stories of the diligence needed to create them.
PRODUCT DETAIL
- Dimension: D9.2cm(3.6in) x H7.8cm(3.1in)
- Capacity: 300ml(9.5oz)
- Material: Stoneware
- Origin: Made in Japan - Kiyomizu Ware
- Brand: Tosen Kiln
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ABOUT TOSEN KILN
Tosen Kiln introduces the traditional techniques of Kiyomizu ware through their delicate hand painting and modeling styles.
The intricate paintings breathe warmth and beauty into their pieces and tell stories of the diligence needed to create them.
ABOUT Kyo Ware and Kiyomizu Ware
"Emblematic Pottery Flourishes in the Old Capital of Japan"
Kyo ware and Kiyomizu ware is one of Kyoto's representative crafts. Its a traditional craft designated by the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, named Kyo-yaki or Kiyomizu-yaki in Japanese.
There is no specific style, and all pottery techniques from various regions of Japan are used. Another characteristic of Kyo ware is that all processes, such as pottery wheel turning and painting, are done by hand. With a history that has developed along with traditional culture, Kyo ware is characterized by delicate painting and excellent modeling skills, resulting in ceramics of great elegance and highly pictorial qualities. Kyo ware and Kiyomizu ware were designated as traditional crafts by the Japanese government in 1977 and are very popular for its artistic quality.
