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MIZUSASHI ARCHIVES ( 20 )
20th Anniversary Collection (Catalog Published in 1999)
This gallery shows a selection of high-fired stoneware water containers known in Japanese as "mizusashi." These
are an integral element amongst the utensils used for "Chanoyu" (Japanese Tea Ceremony). The items shown below were created by Richard Milgrim in his Kyoto studio/kiln, which he
established near Kyoto in 1984.
The mizusashi or fresh water container, is one of the main utensils found in a typical
tea "arrangement." It's function is to hold fresh water which is used to clean the chasen
(bamboo whisk) after it has been used to make tea, and to replenish the iron kettle so it will always be full.
A mizusashi can be used alone on the tatami or placed on top of a special shelf called a Tana, of which there are many variations. It is one of the largest tea utensils
and can be of almost any form as long as it holds a reasonable amount of water. It can be made of porcelin or stoneware as well as glass, metal, wood, etc. Irregular
forms are often fitted with custom lids made of wood and covered with lacquer.
These pieces create a backdrop for the tea bowl and tea caddy which are usually
placed in front of the mizusashi when preparing tea. In many ways they are the utensils that offer the most freedom to a maker of tea wares. This becomes apparent
when one sees the variety of shapes in Milgrim's portfolio of mizusashi.
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