Celadon matcha bowl (chawan) "Iroe with Dragon Wheel Design" by Tezuka Gyokudo II, gold leaf, Kyoto ceramics, Kiyomizu ceramics.
Accessories: Bookmark, fabric, box.
In new condition, unused item, was in a collection for some time. There are small scratches on the box from storage.
Diameter: 12,2 cm, Height: 7,5 cm.
Recommended not only for tea ceremony, but also as interior decoration or gift.
 
This work demonstrates the classic use of kinsai (gold dusting) for decorative purposes.
Here's how the gold is used:
Contours and details: Fine gold lines outline the wheel and details of the carriage. This is a dusting over the glaze.
Contrast: Gold is used to "enliven" the design against the calm blue celadon glaze. It gives the piece a formal, aristocratic appearance.
Style: This is the Kiyomizu style of Kyoto, which often uses gold to create rich, multi-colored compositions.
 
Tezuka Gyokudo II. Characteristics and Style of the Work.
His works are distinguished by a magnificent and elegant style that fully utilizes various traditional Kyoto ceramic techniques, with a particular emphasis on tea ceremony utensils.Diverse Techniques: He left behind works executed in a wide range of techniques, including celadon, blue and white porcelain, overglaze enamel, gold brocade, and kushen.Main Themes: Numerous tea bowls and water jugs are featured, featuring intricate designs of phoenixes, dragons, shrimp, and seasonal flowers (iron wire, chrysanthemums, etc.).Sculptural Beauty: Complex techniques employed, such as intricate painting of complex shapes, are highly prized, as in the work "Twelve-Cornered Water Jug with Blue and White Landscape."
 
History of the Gyokudō Kiln.
The late Tezuka Gyokudō, with a deep passion for art and craft, settled in Kyoto, a city of crafts, at the end of the Meiji period and began studying ceramics. Having mastered the traditional Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki techniques, honed over a long history, he founded a kiln in Higashiyama, Kyoto, in 1916.
He devoted himself to the study of ceramics, beginning with Chinese ceramics, both ancient and modern, and became renowned for his pursuit of celadon, known as the pearl of oriental ceramics. During the intense creative movement in ceramics that raged from the Taishō to the Showa eras, his works, crafted with his outstanding craftsmanship and refined firing techniques, were selected and awarded at exhibitions such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce Exhibition, the Imperial Exhibition, and the Bunten Exhibition. His unique style was highly praised. Passionate about researching and developing various glazes and techniques, he continued to create pieces in a wide variety of styles.
During and after the Pacific War, he moved his kiln to Tobe, located in Shikoku, where he continued producing ceramics. In 1953, striving to create ceramics that would appeal to a wider audience, he founded the Gyokudo Touen workshop in Momoyama, Kyoto. He continued to refine his ceramic techniques, enthusiastically creating and overseeing the operation of the Gyokudo kiln.
He continued his career as a ceramicist until the end of his life. Learning from tradition and maintaining a progressive spirit, he dedicated himself to ceramics, creating the Gyokudo kiln style that "burns with eternal life in the heart." The pride of the Gyokudo kiln lies in the fact that today, its works, created throughout its history, are beloved by many.
The current president of the Gyokudo kiln, the eldest son of the previous president, studied pottery for many years and managed the kiln. In 1977, he succeeded the second generation, maintaining the kiln's traditional honor and continuing to refine firing technologies in the hopes of creating something new for the future.
 
History of Second-Generation Gyokudō Pottery.
Born in Kyoto in 1933. His real name was Kei.
1945. He was present at the founding of the Gyokudō kiln and received instructions from his father. He followed this philosophy when he began making ceramics for the tea ceremony.
In 1977, he succeeded his father as head of the family.
He has held solo exhibitions at Mitsukoshi department stores in Tokyo and Osaka, as well as at Takashimaya department stores in Kyoto and Yokohama, and elsewhere.
Member of the Sankikai crafts branch.
An artisan working using traditional techniques.
Director of the Sumiyama Ceramic Art Cooperative.