This hantsutsu-gata Hagi-yaki chawan (matcha bowl) features a beautiful, crazed, milky glaze with shades of white, grey, brown, and black. The glaze covers the entire piece except for three spots around the koudai (高台 - foot ring) where the potter held onto the bowl while dipping it into the glaze.

Made by Kaneta Keien (兼田佳炎), this chawan comes in its original kiribako (wooden paulownia box). Born in 1949, Keien-san is an eighth generation potter (the sixth at his current kiln) and has won numerous accolades for works, especially his teaware and tea ceremony utensils.

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:

12.5cm (4.9in) - width
8.2cm (3.2in) - height
350ml - capacity

Condition: Excellent

This vintage Japanese item ships from the United States