This saucer dish, raised on a fairly narrow foot displays the “shibui” and “wabicha” aesthetics sought after by Japanese tea practitioners as well as “Mingei” collectors. The brown stoneware body was hastily brushed on the interior and underneath the dish in a rapid manner with no consideration of perfection. The white slip was applied while the piece was still wet from the potter's wheel...

Glazed entirely including the foot and base with a pale greenish-grey glaze, and decorated on two sides with bold stylized calligraphic designs. Good condition except for a small chip to the mouth rim. The foot retains evidence of at least eight spurs on which it was fired and possibly a dusting of wood ash from the firing adding character and a bit of visual texture to the upper body.

Diameter: 3 ½ in.; Height: 2 ¼ in.

Wan shaped tea bowl made of fine, unrefined clay with a small content of iron oxide. The clay shows few impurities and stones. The inside has been stamped with flower patterns (hanamishima) between circular lines both were filled with a fine, white engobe before a transparent ash glaze haze was applied. The bowl has a beautiful shape and is well balanced and has been used for many years as the stain inside and around the rim indicates...