This Kiyomizu-yaki tenmoku chawan (matcha bowl) features a wider shape, a deeply indented lip, and a pronounced cha-damari. This piece sports a stunning yuteki (oil spot) glaze of silvery spots against a dark background. Made by Higashiyama (東山).

The term 'tenmoku' can refer to two things: the shape of a bowl, i.e. conical with a finger groove and flare at the lip; and a dark high-iron glaze that can produce various beautiful effects under the right firing conditions. Both of these originated in Jian ware from Fujian during the Song dynasty (960-1279) in China, where the dark colour of the glaze was praised for the way it contrasts nicely with the froth of whisked tea.

While most Tenmoku glazes are a simple black, occasionally the glaze recipe and the conditions in the kiln are just right, causing the ash in the glaze to separate from the iron in a way that produces beautiful metallic effects, such as the one seen on this cup, called 'yuteki', meaning 'oil-spot'.

Kiyomizu-yaki (清水焼) (also called Shimizu-yaki) is a type of Japanese pottery that traditionally comes from Gojōzaka district near Kiyomizu Temple, in Kyoto, Japan. A subset of Kyo-yaki which refers to all pottery made in the Kyoto area, Kiyomizu ware has been produced since the 16th century

Dimensions:

13cm (5.1in) - width
6.5cm (2.6in) - height
200ml - capacity

Condition: Excellent

This vintage Japanese item ships from Thailand

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