This exquisite Hagi-yaki Chaire (茶入 - tea container) features a wooden lid and is made in the classic shouldered (肩衝 - katatsuki) shape, with a barreled body and high, sharp shoulders. Its beige-pink glaze features subtle spots, a pattern known as gohonte.

The chaire is made by Umeda Touraku (梅田陶楽), and is paired with an orange and gold silk brocade pouch (仕覆 - shifuku) with a purple drawstring.

Chaire (茶入 - tea container), pronounced cha-ee-reh or chai-reh, are ceramic vessels used to hold high-grade matcha used to make koicha (thick tea). They are some of the most highly-regarded tea ceremony utensils. Chaire lids are typically coated with gold or silver leaf on the underside, which was thought to be a pure material that would discolour when it came into contact with poison, thus protecting one from drinking poisoned tea. Chaire are also paired with a custom-made silk brocade pouch (仕覆 - shifuku) that is tied tightly with a drawstring.

Hagi-yaki (萩焼) is a type of Japanese pottery that comes from the town of Hagi in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan and dates back over 400 years. Some of the oldest Hagi-yaki pieces have been declared National Treasures of Japan. The natural warm hues of its clay, along with the simple lines of its forms are highly valued within the traditional aesthetics of many tea ceremony schools.

Hagi ware is said to improve with age as the tannins in the tea slowly stain the fine cracks in the glaze (called crazing or kan-nyuu), creating a rich texture known as 'nanabake', or 'the 7 transformations'. Because of this slightly porous nature, some people like to dedicate their Hagi ware to one type of tea, such as sencha, to avoid having other aromas seep into the clay.


Dimensions:

5.8cm (2.3in) - width
8.4cm (3.3in) - height

Condition: Excellent

This vintage Japanese item ships from the United States