Tsubura Kagami's tea caddy

Small chaire (a container for tea in chanoyu) in Japanese ceramic by Tsubura Kagami, in ivory, deep blue, and pale green tones, covered in a fine network of crackles. The floral decoration, free and slightly diffused, and the irregularities of the glaze give it the appearance of an antique ceramic. In the Japanese tea ceremony, the chaire is used to store matcha tea intended for the preparation of koicha, thick tea. With its small size, rich surface, and sculpted ceramic lid, this piece also serves as a delicate decorative object in its own right.

The Ceramist
Born in 1989 in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, Tsubura Kagami graduated in 2012 from the ceramics program at Joshibi University of Art and Design. She then worked for four years in a ceramic production studio in Kasama before joining the Tokoname Ceramic Research Center, from which she graduated in 2018. She then established herself as an independent ceramicist in Tokoname. Her work is particularly marked by her interest in antique ceramics and by Annam, a Vietnamese ceramic tradition that she reinterprets in a highly personal way.

The technique and decoration
Tsubura Kagami works here in the spirit of Annam-de, the name given in Japan to ceramics inspired by antique Vietnamese productions. The piece is shaped from red clay and then covered with a white slip. The decoration is then incised into this surface and completed with gosu, a cobalt-based pigment used for blue designs, before the application of an ash glaze and firing. The fluidity of the glaze leads to slight shifts and diffusion of the blue, while firing variations reveal ivory, pale green, and brownish nuances. Far from being sought after as a perfectly regular surface, this combination of drips, crackles, and slightly blended colors contributes fully to the aesthetic of her pieces and their evocation of antique ceramics.

Place of manufacture
Japan (Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture)

Dimensions
Diameter 6 cm - Height 7 cm

Weight
104 g

Materials
Ceramic

Period
Contemporary

Care instructions
After use, empty any water and leave to air dry. Avoid thermal shock and abrasive products. Wipe with a soft cloth. Do not use a dishwasher, oven, or microwave.