Two of the most respected Tian Mu (Tenmoku) masters in Taiwan – people called “Bei (North) Shan Yi-Yan, Nan (South) Jian Yu-Ting”. Master Shao tends to like using porcelain-ware as bases to play his glaze magic, while Master Jian usually using earthenware as bases.
Among the two Masters, Mr. Shao has been troubled by deteriorated eyesight in recent years, and thus making fewer and fewer pieces. I was lucky to have the chance to visit his studio in my September trip to Taiwan. Here I would like to share with you one of my acquired babies: a large-sized Mu Yien Tian Mu “Sounding” bowl. Below is a clip showing me playing the bowl:
This is not the best clips with the smoothest sound. But all other clips have my daughter’s talking or laughing in the background, so .. :rool:
The whole body is of a pure metallic black. In the center of the bowl, you can see a figure of complete, unbroken skeleton – very often the burning was not even enough that some part of the skeleton of the leaf was burned too quick to appear on the glaze, or the skeleton was broken. It required a master’s control skill, experience and very great luck. Hence, Mu Yieh Tian Mu is considered as one of the most challenged and rare Tian Mu.
In addition to the challenge of the Mu Yieh itself, this large bowl is actually a “sounding” bowl – in Chinese called Xian Wen. Rubbing your wet fingers against the rim of the bowl, you get a silky and high-pitched sound from it. This one is probably the largest sounding bowl I’ve ever encountered! Imagine the master skill required to try and form the body (quite thin for its size) by hand-thrown!
Although it did cost a little fortune to acquire, I knew I either have to have it or have sleepless nights! Enjoy.
Guang