Katakuchi will-「Céladon №3」

This is "Céladon №3," a katakuchi vessel by Toru Ichikawa, who made a striking debut after studying under Ryuichi Kakurezaki. It is a highly original and unconventional piece that exemplifies Ichikawa's style of giving form to his ceaseless flow of ideas through the supreme medium of clay. True to its title, "Céladon"—the French word for celadon—the work employs a cool, refreshing celadon glaze that captures the essence of summer while expressing an entirely new worldview. The celadon glaze, edged in gold leaf, features fine crackles that possess an icy beauty, boasting a level of perfection typical of Ichikawa, who is deeply dedicated to the study of glazes. The contrasting black Kagutsuchi glaze emits a subtle luster, its appearance like molten iron, which serves to accentuate the beauty and coolness of the celadon. As this piece is designated №3, the celadon glaze possesses even greater transparency, allowing the platinum glaze beneath to shine through; in thicker areas, the crackles form a deeply three-dimensional landscape. Consequently, the composition highlights the platinum glaze more prominently than the celadon, and with the fiercely carved-out upper form, it appears as if a silver ingot has been cut by a laser. Signed wooden box (shiho-san)
D11.2cm x D10.6cm x H10.5cm Toru Ichikawa was born in Tokyo. He began studying under Ryuichi Kakurezaki in June 2011 and established his own studio in Tamano City, Okayama Prefecture, in January 2015.