Early Meiji Period Mishima Chawan
Directory: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Tea Articles: Pre 1900: Item # 1279171
Please refer to our stock # 0192 when inquiring.
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Richard van Norten - by appointment
Avenue Royal - Luxembourg / Europe
Wonderful Mishima chawan with irregular form, made around the end of Edo, surely during the early Meiji period.
The first mention of the Mishima style comes in Eiroku 8 (1565) in a tea diary. Yet the mi kanji recorded in this diary is that for "to see," while the city of Mishima uses the kanji for "three," its whole meaning being "Three Islands." Some scholars therefore believe that the Mishima for which the pottery is named is derived from an island off the coast of Yamaguchi called Mishima, its kanji being the "see" one. A stopping place for trade, city-bound users of the tea bowls would only hear the island's name "Mishima" without seeing the kanji. This ambiguity has caused some confusion and leaves a page of the history of Mishima ware unwritten.
Good condition.
An old wood box will be delivered with this chawan.
Size: 5,5 cm height x 15 cm width.
Shipping included