General Categories of Forms Used
Tea Bowls
Tea was first brought to Japan from China around the 9th century and by the 12th century large-scale tea cultivation began. As the use of tea by monks trickled down to daimyo and samurai, it was adapted into a cultural and religious practices - hence the genesis of the tea ceremony.
The Japanese word for the tea ceremony, chanoyu, literally means “hot water for tea.” The tea ceremony is a highly ritualized practice where tea is consumed in a specialized space with codified procedures. The act of preparing and drinking matcha is a choreographed art requiring many years of study to master. During the ceremony, the emphasis is on the interaction between the host, guests, and the ceramics used in this context—tea bowls, water jars, vases, tea containers, etc — functional tools valued for their practicality yet also as artworks admired for their aesthetics.
Central in all of this is the tea bowl - chawan, for its importance in the tea ceremony and its deeply cultural significance to Japanese culture. Entire books have been written on the chawan as they have been prized and revered for centuries and can fetch astronomical amounts if old enough and made by the right master. As part of the tea ceremony it is required that the guests examine, appreciate, and sometimes discuss the chawan after drinking from it.
Wayne Ngan’s chawan are fine examples of work that would fit in at a formal chanoyu. They are finely made and well acquainted with the wabi-sabi aesthetic prized by collectors and connoisseurs. Please enjoy these excellent examples of his work...
The Japanese word for the tea ceremony, chanoyu, literally means “hot water for tea.” The tea ceremony is a highly ritualized practice where tea is consumed in a specialized space with codified procedures. The act of preparing and drinking matcha is a choreographed art requiring many years of study to master. During the ceremony, the emphasis is on the interaction between the host, guests, and the ceramics used in this context—tea bowls, water jars, vases, tea containers, etc — functional tools valued for their practicality yet also as artworks admired for their aesthetics.
Central in all of this is the tea bowl - chawan, for its importance in the tea ceremony and its deeply cultural significance to Japanese culture. Entire books have been written on the chawan as they have been prized and revered for centuries and can fetch astronomical amounts if old enough and made by the right master. As part of the tea ceremony it is required that the guests examine, appreciate, and sometimes discuss the chawan after drinking from it.
Wayne Ngan’s chawan are fine examples of work that would fit in at a formal chanoyu. They are finely made and well acquainted with the wabi-sabi aesthetic prized by collectors and connoisseurs. Please enjoy these excellent examples of his work...
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Bottles
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Mizuzashi - Water Jars
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Slab Trays
Plates and Chargers
Traditional Forms
Contemporary and Experimental Forms
Later in his life Mr. Ngan produced some wonderful contemporary forms which was a departure from his earlier work. Many more examples of these can be found online from a show he did at the Karg Gallery in New York City and on the Wayne Ngan website. Many of these works use different glazes and elongated forms. Well balanced shapes on tiny base is another recurring theme.