Gongfu Ceremonial Teacups (Iwasaki's MUSHROOMS on porcelain, no. 1)

Iwasaki Tsunemasa also Kan-en (岩崎 常正 or 灌園, 1786–1842) was a Japanese botanist and woodblock artist (as well as a zoologist, entomologist and samurai of the Tokugawa shogunate). 

Woodblock printing  is a technique used widely throughout East Asia. Each image is created by carving a wooden block to leave only some areas and lines at the original level; it is these that are inked and show in the print, in a relief printing process. Carving the blocks is skilled and laborious work, but a large number of impressions can then be printed.  Iwasaki's book, "Honzō Zufu" is a rare and valuable compendium of plants dating from the late Edo period.  Some of his woodblock art has been reprinted by Kew Gardens and is available here.  

This porcelain lotus series includes lotus buds flowers and seed pod details from some of Iwasaki's larger works which I have infused into the glaze using and technique where images are printed using iron oxide and then fused into the glaze through an additional third low temperature firing

Images shown are front & back of teacup

diameter: 2"
height: 2"
volume: approx. 4 oz

• Hand Wash Only (no dishwasher)