Fantastic Ki-Seto Chawan Momoyama Period

What a great Chawan! Wan shaped tea bowl made of light, refined and soft Mino clay, which contains a little iron oxide. The fastly but expertly thrown body inside and outside, with the exception of the bottom (including the finely thrown foot ring) is covered with a transparent ash glaze, which turned to yellow due to the iron oxide in the clay.

In 5 areas of the tea bowl are highlights in green copper oxide in the tradition of the Mino Ki-Seto. The chawan shows a lot of fantastic tea stain, indicating a long period of careful use (see pic. no. six). It seems that the tea bowl was produced after the Oribe-style bowls as it already reflects the taste of Kobori Enshu (daimio-cha, kirei wabi).

The thick and glossy glaze (guinomi-de) has a fine beautiful crazing.

Ki-Seto is said to have been the outcome of the attempts of potters to recreate Chinese celadon wares. A fortunate mistake, for a new ware was born. The ash glaze looks like deep-fried tofu and has been given the name aburaage-de. Almost all Ki-Seto wares are serving utensils - exept some few tea bowls. We have only few in our gallery (from the Momoyama to the early Edo time), so please note that these Ki-Seto chawans are really rare items.

This Ki-Seto tea bowl is in perfect condition, very unusual for a chawan of this age. Absolutely highly recommanded for connaisseurs.

No chips, cracks or repairs, only expected and intended inborn kiln cracks due to the firing. It comes with a fine Japanese wooden box with judgement and authentification, that this Ki-Seto Chawan was made during the Momoyama Era (1573-1603)

Size: 7,5 cm height x 14,7 cm in diameter.