Japanese Chaire - 高取喜恵 Takatori Kie - Takatori-yaki Bunrin Tea Caddy

This exquisite Takatori-yaki Chaire (茶入 - tea container) is made in the classic 'apple' (文琳 - bunrin) shape, with a near spherical body. The mottled brown-orange glaze is pireced by a bluish-white drip, marking the shomen (正面 - face). These flowing glazes are one of the highlights of Takatori-yaki. 

The chaire comes paired with a striped shifuku (仕覆 - silk brocade pouch) woven in the Takarakantou (宝間道) pattern.

Made by Takatori Kie (高取喜恵), real name Kiseko (キセ子). Born in 1934, Kiseko-san married the 13th generation kiln head of Hassen Kiln (八仙窯) and began to make pottery herself under the name Takatori Kie. She specialised in exquisite chaire in the classical Chinese forms and styles, such as katatsuki, nasu, kotsubo, and bunrin. This vintage item ships with its original tomobako (paulownia wooden box).

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.

Takatori-yaki (高取焼) is a type of Japanese pottery that traditionally comes from Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The original Takatori workshops were founded by Korean potters following the Japanese invasion of Korea in the 16th Century. In the nineteenth century, Takatori-yaki became one of the Seven Famous Kilns of Enshū, preferred by tea ceremony master Kobori Enshū. 

Dimensions:

7cm (2.8in) - width
6.5cm (2.6in) - height

Condition: Very good

This Japanese item ships from the United States.