This exquisite Hagi-yaki Chaire (茶入 - tea container) is made in the classic shouldered (肩衝 - katatsuki) shape, with a barreled body and high, sharp shoulders. Its has a beautifully subtle biwa-iro loquat glaze.

The chaire was made by Mizumine Ōno (大野瑞峰) and comes paired with a blue and gold shifiku (仕覆 - silk brocade pouch), made from Jōō-donsu fabric (紹鴎緞子 - brocade pattern named after Takeno Jōō, famous chajin and teacher of Sen no Rikyu). The chaire ships in its original kriibako (桐箱 - wooden paulownia box)

Born in 1910, Mizumine Ōno worked as a chief potter at Hitachi Research Laboratory, until founding his own kiln in 1947 and in 1952 he was deemed an intangible cultural property.

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.

Dimensions:

5.6cm (2.2in) - width
9.2cm (3.6in) - height

Condition: Excellent

This vintage Japanese item ships from the United States