Fresh water container for tea ceremony, mizusashi

This stoneware container was created to hold cold water during the Japanese tea ceremony. It symbolises the well and the spirit of water, without which life on earth would not be possible. The container was fired in an Anagama kiln at 1,340°C. The surface of the container is naturally decorated with ash patterns over the four-day firing process. In the heat, ash fuses onto the clay to form a natural glaze. Smoke, flames and embers leave their mark in the form of grey, red and deep blue tones.