Japanese Matcha Bowl - 狹川宗玄 Sakawa Sōgen - 華 Kōrai Gohon Chawan

This Kyo-yaki chawan (matcha bowl) is made in the style of a classic kōrai gohon chawan (高麗御本茶碗) with a komogai-nari shape and a warm grey glaze with patches of white, beige, and white spots. The front of the chawan is decorated with the kanji 「華」(flower), brushed by then head priest of Tōdai-ji temple Sakawa Sōgen (狹川宗玄) for the 7th Kegon Tea Gathering (華厳茶会) on May 3rd, 1988. The bowl comes with its original kiribako (桐箱 - wooden paulownia box) which also is brushed with the kanji「華」by Sōgen.

Gohonte typically refers to an array of pink or white spots against a grey or beige background, often made when a piece coated with white slip and covered in a transparent glaze is fired in reduction. It gets its name from the order forms and catalogue books (御本 - gohon) that tea masters used in late 16th and early 17th centuries to order tea bowls from potters and kilns in Korea. Many of those gohon chawan (御本茶碗) had these spots, hence the name gohonte.

Kyo-yaki (京焼) is a type of Japanese pottery that traditionally comes from Kyoto, Japan. The pottery traditions of Kyoto date back to the 5th century and are varied in their styles.

Dimensions:

14.2cm (5.6in) - width
7.5cm (3in) - height
300ml - capacity

Condition: Excellent

This vintage Japanese item ships from the United States