E legant S implicity

Ceramic Works by Miraku Kamei XV and Son

Pucker Gallery • Boston

1 E legant S implicity Ceramic Works by Miraku Kamei XV and Son

he Japanese is a ritualistic practice commonly called Chanoyu, T meaning “hot water for tea.” What began in the Muromachi Period (1336-1573) has evolved over time to become a special experience between the tea master and their guests. I t takes many years to learn this time-honored ritual, as tea masters study the complex choreography and order specific to the ceremony. The ceramic vessels used in a tea ceremony—hanaire, chawan, mizusashi, chaire (tea caddies), and kashiki—are valued for their functionality and beauty. takatori ware, originally mandated by the warlords of Fukuoka Prefecture and well known to practitioners of the tea ceremony today, has Flower vase (hanaire), gourd form been produced by the K amei Family for fifteen Takatori glaze 11.5 x 3.5 x 3.5" generations. An aesthetic philosophy of XV158 kirei-sabi, which translates as “elegant simplicity,” Cover images: has defined their work. Embracing the past but Miraku Kamei XV with a modern approach, Miraku Kamei XV Upper left: Lower left: Tea bowl (chawan) Tea bowl (chawan), shippo design maintains an age-old tradition in a contemporary Old Takatori style openwork foot 3 x 4.75 x 4.75" Takatori glaze setting, effortlessly producing ceramics with XV165 3.25 x 5 x 5" XV163 Upper center: subtlety and finesse. He honors his family Tea bowl (chawan), seam Lower center: decoration Tea bowl (chawan) tradition of shape, weight, and glazed surfaces, Kakewake glaze “Golden flower” (kinka) glaze pays tribute to the Japanese aesthetic of 3 x 4.5 x 4.5" 3 x 4.75 x 4.75" XV159 XV161 restraint, harmony, and balance, and enhances Upper right: Lower right: Tea bowl (chawan) Tea bowl (chawan), shippo design the beauty of the tea ceremony with his elegant Old Takatori style openwork 2.75 x 5 x 5" Takatori glaze forms and designs. XV164 3 x 5 x 5" —Paige Vaal XV160 June 2018 All works are stonew are.

2 Sweets tray (kashiki) Green glaze and stamped decoration 2.25 x 9.75 x 9.75" XV139

Water container (mizusashi) with lacquer lid, sendanmaki incising Tea bowl (chawan) 7.5 x 6.5 x 5.5" Old Takatori style XV150 2.75 x 5.5 x 5.5" XV162

3 Sweets tray (kashiki) Black glaze 3 x 9.5 x 9.5" XV140 M iraku k amei XV

iraku Kamei XV was born Masahisa K amei in 1960, the eldest son of M iraku Kamei XIV, master potter of Takatori ware. He completed his university M degree in Ceramics at Kyoto Saga University of Arts and took the title of the fifteenth generation in 2001. Mr. K amei has been carrying on the tradition of Takatori ware for more than thirty years. I n addition to exhibiting and promoting Takatori ware around , he is an active teacher, training students in ceramics at a number of institutions around his home city of Fukuoka. He is also president of the Fukuoka/Hakata branch of the Japan Ceramics A ssociation and a member of numerous arts organizations. In 2016, Kamei received the award of Contemporary Master Craftsman, designated to a craftsman with excellent skills from Fukuoka, Japan.

4 Vase Vase Dyed glaze Dyed glaze 13 x 6 x 6" 11.5 x 6 x 6" XV135 XV134

5 Flower vase (hanaire), turnip form with ginko leaf handles Water container (mizusashi) with lid, cylindrical handles, Takatori glaze and shippo design openwork 9.5 x 4.5 x 4.5" 6 x 7 x 6" XV157 XV52

Water container (mizusashi) with lacquer lid, gourd form Water container (mizusashi) with lacquer lid, shippo design handles 7.25 x 6.25 x 6.25" 7.5 x 6.25 x 6" XV153 XV151

6 Flower vase (hanaire), with fish handles Flower vase (hanaire), shippo design open work with shippo handles Takatori ame glaze White glaze 10.5 x 3.75 x 3.75" 10 x 3.5 x 3.5" XV154 XV155

Turpon shell water container (sazae mizusashi), with stoneware lid 5.25 x 10 x 7.75" XV156

7 h isaaki k amei Son of Miraku Kamei XV

Flower vase (hanaire), turnip form Flower vase (hanaire), turnip form 11 x 5 x 5" Takatori glaze HK12 10 x 4.75 x 4.75" HK11

8 Water container (mizusashi) with lacquer lid Takatori glaze 6.5 x 6.75 x 6.75" HK14

Tea bowl (chawan) Tea bowl (chawan) Takatori glaze Takatori glaze 3.25 x 5.5 x 5.5" 3.5 x 5 x 5" HK17 HK20

9 Narrow mouth pot (tsubo) Takatori glaze 11 x 5.5 x 5.5" HK13

10 Tea bowl (chawan) with seam Tea bowl (chawan) 3 x 4.75 x 4.75" Takatori glaze HK16 2.5 x 4.5 x 4.5" HK18

Tea bowl (chawan), tube shape Tea bowl (chawan) 3.5 x 4 x 4" Takatori yellow glaze HK19 3.75 x 5 x 5" HK21

11 E legant S implicity Ceramic Works by Miraku Kamei XV and Son

Dates: 8 September 2018 through 7 October 2018

Opening Re ception: 22 September 2018 — 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm

The public is invited to attend. The artist will be present.

Hisaaki Kamei Water container (mizusashi) with lacquer lid Takatori glaze 5 x 8 x 8" HK15

Credits: Please visit www.puckergallery.com to view the full Design: Leslie Anne Feagley catalogue for this exhibition, which includes additional Editors: Jeanne Koles and P aige Vaal works and images. Photography: John Davenport Gallery Hours: © 2018, Pucker Gallery Monday through Saturday: 10:00 am to 5:30 pm Printed in the USA by Modern Postcard Sunday 10:30 am to 5:00 pm Pucker Gallery 240 Newbury Street, 3rd floor Pucker Gallery is a member of the Boston Art Dealers Boston, MA 02116 Association and the New England Appraisers Association. Phone: 617.267.9473 E-mail: [email protected] 12