人気陶芸作家の大谷哲也氏は「過去のクリエーターの影響なしに作品を制作することは不可能」と語っておられました。
大谷氏は「写し」を作っておられませんが、魯山人をはじめ多くの陶芸作家は過去の名品の写しを創作し時に元になった器を超えるような作品を生み出します。
「写し」が「本家」を超えるということがあるのが陶芸の世界で、絵画や彫刻には無いユニークなところだと思います。
魯山人の場合、自分好みの器、例えば中国の染付や李朝の陶器、日本の織部などの写しを創作しました。魯山人の器は観賞用ではなく用の器。多くの料理人に人気があり料理を盛ってみたいと思わせるのは、魯山人自身が料理人であり日本料理に合う器を写し、さらに用の器としての完成度を高めたからではないでしょうか。
他方、青磁は朝鮮や日本で多くの写しが作られてきましたが、11世紀から12世紀頃作られた中国・汝窯（じょよう）の青磁を超える磁器はまだ作られていません。
汝窯の釉には瑪瑙（メノウ）の粉末が使われていたとされ、表面の青色は言葉では表現しにくい優美で潤いのある魅惑的な色合いを帯びています。現存するのはわずか70点余りで台北故宮博物院や大英博物館に所蔵されており、個人所蔵品は4点のみだそうです。
Popular pottery artist Tetsuya Otani once stated, "It's impossible to create works without being influenced by past creators."
Although Mr. Otani does not make "replicas," many potters, including Rosanjin, create reproductions of past masterpieces. Sometimes, these reproductions surpass the original pieces they are modeled after.
One unique aspect of the pottery world is that a "replica" can sometimes surpass the "original." This phenomenon isn't typically found in other art forms like painting or sculpture.
In the case of Rosanjin, he created pieces that reflected his personal preferences, drawing inspiration from Chinese blue-and-white pottery, Korean ceramics from the Joseon dynasty, and Japanese Oribe ware. Rosanjin's pieces aren't just for display but are practical wares. They are popular among many chefs who find them enticing for presenting dishes. Perhaps the reason for this popularity is that Rosanjin himself was a chef, and he created reproductions that not only matched Japanese cuisine but also elevated their functionality as practical wares.
On the other hand, while numerous replicas of celadon have been made in Korea and Japan, no porcelain has yet surpassed the celadon of China's Ru kiln, produced between the 11th and 12th centuries.
It is believed that the glaze of the Ru kiln contained powdered agate, giving its surface a uniquely graceful and lustrous blue hue that is difficult to describe in words. Only around 70 pieces are known to exist today, with collections housed in institutions like the National Palace Museum in Taipei and the British Museum. Only four pieces are reportedly in private collections.
