Oni Tenmoku Wood-fired Tea Bowl (Chawan)
Tenmoku takes its name from the Tianmu Mountain temple in China where iron-glazed bowls were used for tea. ( In Japanese: ten moku; English translation: Heaven's Eye.) Today this glaze is widely used in high fire reduction gas firings throughout the world yielding a black glaze breaking brown where thin. Tenmoku, unprotected by saggers during a wood-firing take on a rich variety of effects from the passing flame and deposited ash ranging from oil spots, rabbit fur, plum blushes and many wonderful effects inbetween. These pieces, openly exposed to the fierce environment of a wood-firing are referred to as “Oni” or demon Tenmoku.
Tenmoku glaze in the wood-kiln invites the artist to explore endless possibilities. Tenmoku is profoundly sensitive to the wood ash and flame produced in the tempestuous environment achieved in a wood-firing. Too much exposure to ash and flame and little evidence remains of the the original glaze and its magnificent manifestations. Close to the conflagration of the fire box a tenmoku piece begins to loose it’s unique properties, as it succumbs to the onslaught of ash and flame. Sequestered in the back of the kiln, removed from much of the full force of the flame stream, tenmoku becomes a profound register of a vast array of special yohen effects. Yohen is Japanese for “changed by fire.” Effects range from crystal formation, golden rays seemingly glowing from beneath the surface of the glaze, rabbit fur, oil spots, and a variety of colors. Tenmoku is an elusive glaze, yielding the best results to those willing to haunt the furthest reaches of the flame.