This small and classy chawan (matcha bowl) is thrown in a classic Tenmoku-gata shape from Asahi-yaki’s signature hanshi (燔師) clay, dug from Shirakawa and Oriiyama in and around Uji. The bowl is draped in an oak ash glaze which exhibits subtle shifts in its cool greenish-grey hue along with prominent crazing which will develop further with use. The green along with the black spots come from iron present in the glaze. These natural imperfections and a touch of softness to the formality and stateliness that is typically associated with the tenmoku shape. Adding this rustic touch to a classically elegant form expresses Asahi-yaki's signature kirei-sabi aesthetic.

Before using it for the first time, it is recommended to soak the piece in water for 10 minutes. This will dislodge any dust from the clay as well as slow down the natural development of patina in the glaze.

This piece was made by the skilled craftsmen at the Asahi-yaki studio and wood-fired in their climbing kiln.

Asahi-yaki (朝日焼) are a world-renowned pottery studio located at the foot of Mt. Asahi in Uji. Their founder produced wares for the tea ceremony in the late 16th-early 17th centuries, at the height of chanoyu’s artistic development, and his works were loved by chajin Kobori Enshū (who succeeded Furuta Oribe and Sen-no-Rikyū as leading tea master). Since then, Asahi-yaki have continued to make wares that capture Enshū’s aesthetic philosophy of ‘Kirei-Sabi’, which is a more refined take on Rikyū’s ‘Wabi(-sabi)’.

Today, they are headed by 16th generation potter Matsubayashi Hōsai XVI who leads his studio in producing wares for both the Japanese tea ceremony and for the brewing of loose-leaf teas. They continue to use local Uji clay, mined from the surrounding hills, which they call ‘hanshi’. Since the 8th generation head, they also make sencha and gyokuro wares out of porcelain from Kyūshu.

Dimensions:

12.2cm (4.8in) - width
6.5cm (2.6in) - height

Condition: New

This Japanese item ships from the United States.