Catalog: Antiques: Regional Art: Asian: Japanese: Tea Articles (261)

A historic-cultural highlight: we proudly present a more than 1000 year old Yama Chawan with a strong kai-yu glaze. Once in a while you can find a traditional unglazed yama chawan on the antique market, but a Yama Chawan with a strong and vivid kai-yu glaze is very very rare...

This is a collectable Japanese Seto ware mountain tea bowl, excavated and repaired with a gold repair, an aesthetic kintsugi.

The Yamajawan or Yama-Chawan, which means translatet 'Mountain tea bowl', has an ore-like sparkle natural ash glaze. It is for sure a proto-pottery bowl with great reference value.

Seto ware is pottery with the oldest history in Japan...

We like to present you a 150 year old tea bowl made of Shino ware. It was made around the late Edo/early Meiji period.

White pottery is coated with white and light grey glaze. Very tasteful. It comes with a Japanese wood box (kiribako).

As you can check on the pictures, it is in good antique condition with no chips, cracks or repairs.

Size: 7,7cm height x 11,4cm in diameter.

Early 17th century (Edo Period 1603-1868) distorted shoe shaped (tsutsugata) white Shino Chawan with a rounded brim, made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potter's knife in the lower part of the body and around the foot ring.

This bowl was covered with a white Shino type of ash glaze. Under the transparent glaze two young pine tries were painted in iron oxide...

Very old Karatsu Chawan (early Edo), slightly deformed rare wan type.

It is thrown on a wheel from coarse unrefined iron baring clay and has tasteful colours.

Smooth feeling in the hands and great antique condition with expected fine hairline cracks and inborn kiln cracks.j

Size: 11cm diameter, 7cm in height.

One of a kind! Very rare and unique Seto Chawan from the Meiji Period (1868-1912) which combines a unique mosaic pattern glaze on the outside with an artistic Neriage/Nerikomi technique on the inside. There is a signature of the potter inside the foot.

Nerikomi (練り込み , lit. "kneading") is an artistic technique for creating Japanese pottery in multiple colors of clay...

We continue our presentation of Ohi chawan (Ohi tea bowls) with yet another sublime vessel, a true eye-catcher made at the end of the Meiji Period around 1910. It's a unique Ohi Chawan which seems to be a kuro Raku bowl, but it isn't. With its sophisticated shape and its mesmerizing play of predator pattern inside its outstanding.

Ohi ware is indeed closely related to Raku; the first Ohi potter was the son of Raku III, Donyu, and apprenticed to the fourth Raku master, Ichinyu...

Hard to find nowadays: slightly distorted shoe shaped (kutsugata) tea bowl from the early Edo Period with a rounded brim, made of little iron bearing, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potter's knife in its lower part around the foot ring.

The whole body was decorated with wide white parallel lines in a white engobe over which a thin line in iron oxide was drawn, over which finally transparent ash glaze was applied - really stunning...

Hard to find nowadays: fairly shoe shaped (kutsugata) tea bowl, made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was covered with a potter's knife in its shoulder and around the foot ring.

The brim of this bowl covered with a green copper oxide glaze and the lower part was left unglazed and decorated in iron oxide with buddhist wheel of law on two opposite sides over which finally a transparent ash glaze was applied...

Antique tasteful Satsuma Chawan made and marked by Gyozan, one of the most famous Japanese Satsuma artists, circa 1905, during the Meiji Period.

It presents a wonderful hand painting on it with strong and shiny colours.

The typical Satsuma ware we most come into contact with is a yellowish earthenware usually decorated with a minute decoration with Japanese figures, expressive faces or detailed oriental landscapes, or sometimes embellished with vivid dragons in relief...

We like to offer you this hand shaped Tanba Chawan with natural glaze cracks. It was made during Meiji Period and is 120 years old.

As shown in the pictures, it's in good condition for its age. The foot of the bottom has a small chip (Please refer to the last picture to check it), but it does not diminish its beauty...

Wan shape with a small foot and no Kagami (mirror - tea pool) inside.

The light iron bearing clay is decorated in the style of a Korean Miji-Hakaeme bowls: inside and the upper three quarters on the outside covered with a whitish Engobe over which a transparent ash glaze was applied, just sparing the inner part of the foot.

The Uchigaso kiln was the second of the Takatori kilns established by Korean potters, it was active between 1614 and 1624.

The bowl was ex...

Perfect Aka-Raku Chawan by the 10th Kichizaemon Tan-Nyu with its signed authentication box.

The Kichizaemon family of potters was established in Kyoto by Chojiro during the Momoyama period (16th century). The 10th. generation head of the family (Tan-Nyu, 1795-1854) was born the second son of the 9th generation Kichizaemon. Along with Yoyosai assisted in the establishment of a kiln for the Kishu branch of the Tokugawa family, and soon followed that up with others around the country...

Perfect Aka Raku Chawan by Kichizaemon (twelfth Generation) Konyu (1857-1932). His childhood name was Kozaburo, later became Kicho (or, Yoshinaga). He was the eldest son of Keinyu, the eleventh generation master...

This chawan will make your eyes shine with its beauty. Wonderful distorted Suhama-gata (shoreline type) Chawan of Arita ware with finest golden lines of a real high class kintsugi. Different shades of purple make this Chawan from the Meiji Period (1868-1912) to a truely incomparable piece of art.

No chips or cracks.

Size: 6,5 x1 2,5 cm

Free shipping worldwid

Arita ware:

Located in western Saga prefecture, Arita is the original home of Japanese...

A very aesthetically pleasing Japanese high-quality and mystic Raku Chawan with a rarely seen jade green glaze.

Iridescent green and white tinges rise up like some deep space cloud on the meteoric surface of this sugi-nari shaped (Cedar shape) chawan. It dates back to the early stage of the 20th century (Meiji Period). This exceptional bowl is part of our family collection since the 1940ies. The extraordinary beauty of this bowl enhances every collection.

No chips, cracks ...

Perfectly shaped Ko-Seto Chawan dating back to the mid Edo Period (1603-1868). The expertly thrown body is covered with the typical white, feldspatic Shino type glaze. It differs from the Mino Shino glaze by being glossier due to a higher ash content

The importance of this sublime tea bowl is underlined by the fact that it was equipped with a tailor made double box and by the fact that the box bears the attestation of a tea master who judged that this bowl was made during the Edo Pe...

Slightly distorted cylinder shaped (hanzutsu) tea bowl made of fine, light, unrefined Mino clay, containining a little iron oxide. Shape and style make it appear contemporary with the late Oribe bowls. The expertly thrown body is covered with the typical black oniita engobe inside and outside - with the exception of the bottom - over which a white, feldspatic Shino glaze has been poured. Just the foot ring and its immediate surrounding was left unglazed. The decoration scratched into the iron...

Love at first sight! From deep inside the cultural heart of the Japanese Edo Period we are proud to present you another stunning Chawan from our collection.

Rounded wan-shaped bowl, the light, aestetic clay with enclosures is expertly thrown and (with the exception of the foot) the bowl is covered with a fantastic mixed feldspar and ash glaze; the light iron oxide in the clay produced a beautiful colour, changing from pink to orange, a loquat-color, well known from the Korean Ido b...

What a wonderful glaze. Slightly distorted shoe shaped (kutsugata) tea bowl from the early Edo period with a rounded brim, made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potter's knife in its lower part around the foot ring.

In the style of Kuro-Oribe bowls this bowl was covered with a brown iron oxide glaze. A window on the side was left unglazed and split in two halves - one was decorated with iron oxide engobe which was decorated with inc...

Here we present a real old Ko-Karatsu Tenmoku Chawan with a wonderful yobitsugi repair. It dates from the early stages of the Japanese Azushi-Momoyama Period (1573-1603).

A yobitsugi repair is not just a simple repair, it is a recreation by using laquer and some fragments of broken pottery of the same or a similar kiln. The result is a breathtaking consistency of 'landscape' (keshiki). The chawan is ready for use - tea does not leak.

A characteristic feature of the use of...

There are only few opportunities to find antique Chosen Karatsu chawans - collectors know of what I'm talking about. Here is the second one of our collection:

Chosen Karatsu chawan from the Edo Period. The grandiose embellishment of color creates a sublime sense of tension between the dark glazed and color infusion.

The Chosen Karatsu style is a traditional style which was introduced by one or more potters brought from the Joseon Dynasty during the Japanese invasions of ...

Ash blasted and bursting with inclusions, this chawan comes with everything you could want from a perfect Shigaraki bowl.  It dates from the late Edo Period (1603-1868). Over a terracotta clay burnt ash gray a smattering of pale flying ash provides the backdrop for molten drips of foggy green and orange shizen yu glaze.  The shape conforms beautifully to the palm, showing the master skill of this important chawan.

It comes with an old wooden box with appraisal, a silk pouch (shif...

Antique solitary Awara-yaki chawan by great artist Kuze Tensei 久世天声 (1878 - 1933) around 1915 (Meiji Period).

He studied art under Yamada Kei while working as a teacher at Ishikawa Technical Senior High School. In 1914, he moved to Awara Onsen in Fukui Prefecture (a classic hot spring town) where he set up a studio and kiln and created Awara-yaki using clay from the area to produce Kyo-ware style ceramics, which often won prizes in exhibitions.

The Kuze name is ...

One of a kind! Wonderful Shiro-Hira Raku Natsu (Summer) Chawan made and sealed by greatest Kichizaemon Konyu XII.

The wooden box has an attestation written by Sokuchusai, the 13th Omotesenke master. The chawan is named shira-kumo, white clouds.

No chips or cracks except natural inborn and intended kiln cracks for a great wabi-sabi aura.

Born 1857 as the eldest son of Keinyû, he succeeded as the 12th generation in 1871 at the age of 15. He took the name of K�...

Cylinder shaped (hanzutsu) tea bowl made of light, fine, unrefined Mino clay. Shape and style (note the trimmed walls) make it appear contemporary with the late Oribe bowls.

The expertly thrown body is covered with the typical white, feldspatic Shino glaze has been poured under which a decoration of a willow tree (yanagi) and a fence have been applied in iron oxide (oni ita). Just the foot ring and its immediate surrounding was left unglazed. The somewhat irregular foot is typical ...

Little distorted half cylinder shaped tea bowl made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body is covered with the typical shino glaze inside and outside with a fine dark greyish triangle design. This is a typical late Momoyama design. The somewhat irregular foot is typical for the late production of the 1620-ies at the Motoyashiki and Kamagane kilns.

Wonderful Kintsugi (gintsugi) Gold Restoration, which makes this chawan unique and more precious.

A ...

Cylinder shaped (hanzutsu) tea bowl made of light, fine unrefined Mino clay. Style (trimmed mouth, very controlled glaze) make it appear contemporary with the late Oribe bowls. The expertly thrown body is covered with the typical white, feldspatic Shino glaze which has been poured and under which a decoration of brush strokes has been applied in iron oxide (oni ita) representing grass and fences.

Just the foot ring and its immediate surrounding was left unglazed. The glaze has a beau...

Cylinder shaped (hanzutsu) tea bowl made of light, fine, unrefined Mino clay from the late Momoyama or early Edo period. Shape and style (note the trimmed walls) make it appear contemporary with the late Oribe bowls. The expertly thrown body is covered with the typical white, feldspatic Shino glaze which has been poured and under which a decoration of a bamboo grass (sass) and a fence have been applied in iron oxide (oni ita). Just the foot ring and its immediate surrounding was left unglaze...

Slightly distorted cylinder shaped (hanzutsu) tea bowl made of fine, light, unrefined Mino clay, containining a little iron oxide. Shape and style make it appear contemporary with the late Oribe bowls. The expertly thrown body is covered with the typical black oniita engobe inside and outside - with the exception of the bottom - over which a white, feldspatic Shino glaze has been poured. Just the foot ring and its immediate surrounding was left unglazed. The decoration was scratched into the ...

Perfectly shaped Shino Chawan with beautifully crackled Shino glaze and with the image of 3 Noh mai dancers.

It is extremely rare to find an antique tea bowl with a Noh mai dance motif.

This Chawan was made at the end of the 19th century. The signature of the artist is inscribed close to the foot ring.

Noh mai means „traditional movement“ and came from China to western Japan It was heavily influenced by the elegance and sophistication of the manners often a...

A striking late 19th century Shigaraki Chawan with one of the most beautiful Kintsugi repairs we have ever seen. A mixture of lacquer and gold powder showing a traditional Karakusa pattern - a real unicum.

This aesthetically pleasing highest quality Kintsugi gold repair was made and in 1974 by Arakawa Kentaro, former master craftsman of the Tokyo National Museum.

The 'kara' of Karakusa means 'China', while 'kusa' means 'plant'. The Karakusa pattern came to Japan from China...

This is an absolutely rare black Seto chawan ( setoguro chawan ) from the Edo Period.

Blackish-brown glaze amalgamates with a wild and roughly thrown body and a still vivid and strong Seto Glaze. It is very heavy for a tea bowl, 503g. Please note that there is also an interesting kiln mark.

Setoguro yaki is high-fired ware that originated in the late 16th century. Black glaze is achieved by removing the iron-glazed pots from the kiln when they are red-hot (a technique ca...

Heavily distorted shoe shaped (kutsu) Chawan from the early 17th century with a strongly flaring mouth made of light, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body was trimmed with a potters knife in its lower part and covered with a very deep black iron oxide glaze inside and outside.

Two 'windows' on two sides have been left unglazed. One has a very rare decoration with hanging persimmons (hoshikaki) scratched into the engobe and the other has a often seen fence painted u...

Meiji Era (around 1910) Samurai Tea Bowl with fantastic painting, marked on the bottom 'Heian'.

White porcelain from Kyo ware is coated with vivid silver glaze and a handpainting of ocean, clouds and a kabuto (a Japanese amor samurai helmet).

Kabuto is a type of helmet first used by ancient Japanese warriors, and in later periods, they became an important part of the traditional Japanese armour worn by the samurai class and their retainers in feudal Japan.

Great...

What a rare and impressive Chawan, made during the mid Edo Period (1603-1868) - Seto-Karatsu Kutsu Chawan with a wonderful shape and a vivid Seto glaze, which which partly looks like the glaze of Chinese Song-Dynasty Tenmoku tea bowls. Really one of a kind.

It has no chips, cracks or repairs and comes with an old Japanese wooden box. The inside of the lid bares the appraisal of the first Mashimizu Zoroku 初代 真清水蔵六 (1822-1877). Shimizu Tasaburo the First learned pottery...

An absolutely stunning Meiji period black Oribe Tea Bowl covered in thick, ink-black glaze with a floral and abstract design.

The slightly irregular kutsu-gata form settles easily into the palm of the hand, with the built up rim resting lightly on the fingers

The Chawan has a seal and is signed by the artist. I was unable to identify him. Of course he was a great master of his craftmanship.

Size:

Rare Kiyomizu Nodate Summer tea bowl with fantastic hand-painting, made during the Japanese Meiji Period (1868-1912).

This summer bowl is in great condition with no chips or cracks.

Size: 7,3 cm height x 8,1 cm in diameter.

The history of Kiyomizu ware began approximately 400 hundred years ago. Kyoto was the center of culture and the biggest economic market at the time, which led it to feature pottery from all over Japan. In the 16th century, tea ceremony bec...

One of a kind - a rare 17th century Kiyomizu Chawan with a wonderful thick and vivid hand painted Sakura scenery. Such old Kiyomizu items in perfect antique condition are very, very rare.

It comes with an antique wooden box.

Kyo ware/Kiyomizu ware are works of art that illustrate the scenery of the four seasons in Kyoto or feature drawings that bring good luck. A lot of the vessels are made by using the technique wherein the clay is baked once before being painted. They...

Elegantly shaped Ki-Seto Chawan from the Edo Period, early 19th century with a rarely seen gold rim. Precious metal rings were added when the chawan was made for the aristocracy and for the high nobility.

The beautiful and glossy glaze (guinomi-de) has a fantastic crazing. The bowl has also a decoration with vivid tanpan marks ( copper green marks ).

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

From our collection of unique Japanese Tea Bowls we present you another rare piece of art: a Japanese Wan-Nari Chawan with Urushi lacquer, shaped in wabi-sabi tradition in the 19th century (late Edo Period 1603-1868). Wan Nari (椀形) Chawan are quite rare and a fine addition to any collection of Japanese Chawan. It is the only one we were able to acquire in the 20th century.

No chips or cracks.

Size: 7,5 cm height x 16,5 cm in diameter.

Rounded wan-shaped chawan with strong throwing (finger) marks, called rokuro-me. The light, very fine clay with enclosures is expertly thrown. The body is fully glazed - with the exception of the foot and its surrounding area.

The cream coloured glaze shows pink colour in some paces as we know it from Korean Gohon tea bowls. It shows discolouration from green tea and a beautiful crazing - especially on inside, a sign of many years of careful use. The style and the very fine clay indi...

We are glad to offer you a rare and stunning Kosobe-yaki Chawan with a beautiful hand painting of pines and cranes, under thick cream colored glaze on very thinly potted clay blended with shiseki for great effect. This is likely the work of the second or third generation Shinbei, both known for their Korai-Utsushi (Korean style) wares. Finding such a delicate Chawan in such good condition from the Edo period is exceedingly rare. It comes with a shiho-san wooden box.

On the bottom is...

A very rare, noble and artful Hirado Chawan with traces of playful glaze surrounding the bowl like icing. It dates from the Meiji Period (1868-1912) and is in great antique condition with no chips, cracks or repairs.

Since such tea bowls are very rare to find, it is a wonderful addition to any serious collection of Japanese tea ceramics.

Hirado wares—alternately known as Mikawachi wares in some contexts—are known throughout Japan and also abroad for their high quality ...

An impressive Kuro Raku Chawan made by the legendary 12th generation Kichizaemon Kônyû (1857-1932). The name of the Chawan is „Akebono“ - Sunrise.

His childhood name was Kozaburo, later became Kicho (or, Yoshinaga). He was the eldest son of Keinyu, the eleventh generation master. In 1871, he succeeded the family business and became the generation master. In 1919 he retired and took the name as Kônyû. He enjoyed his retirement in practicing tea ceremony and writing haiku. Hi...

Impressing black Raku tea bowl, signed Kichizaemon, of the Raku family.

The signed box is labeled “10th generation”, which means Tan-nyu (1795-1854). It represents true Japanese Chado, made from of one of the most famous potter clans in Japan. Most pieces of Kichizaemon Tan-nyu are hold in museums.

Tan-nyu Raku was born the second son of Ryonyu, he succeeded as the 10th generation Kichizaemon in 1811. He was given the name Tan-nyu at this retirement in 1845 by Kyokosai,...

One of the best tea bowls I have ever seen. Wonderful Raku Chawan in the style of Donyu (Nonko III) Kichizaemon, made by greatest Raku 12th generation Kônyû Kichizaemon. Holding this masterpiece is like a universe held in the palms of your hands.

Among the various generations of the Kichizaemon family, it has always been customary to devote themselves artistically to at least one of their ancestors and produce a work of art commemorating the great work of their ancestors. And so d...

A spectacular Meiji period Tenmoku Chawan by Eiraku Zengoro decorated in a flamboyant style with precious metals.

A golden pine trunk rises, almost entirely obscured by the mass of silver pine needles built up both within and without the bowl. It is most powerful in comparison to the ordinarily subdued Kyo-yaki ware of the Meiji era. The stamp on the base is undoubtedly that of Wazen.

The bowl is just less than 5 inches (12.5 cm) diameter and in perfect condition.

...

We are glad to present you this Edo period chawan by Japans greatest Poet Rengetsu Ōtagaki ( 1791-1875 ).

It shows a 31-syllable poem of herself and her signature tastefully carved onto the tea bowl. The poem says:

おともせず

ふるとも見えぬ

朝じめり

枝おもげ成

青柳のいと

Without a sound

rain falls, also unseen

the morning wetness

in heavily sagging

fronds of green ...

Little distorted half cylinder shaped (hanzutzu) tea bowl made of light, coarse unrefinde Mino clay, with very nice, little and small ishihaze (exploding stones).

The mouth has been trimmed in a fashion frequently seen in black Oribe but rarely in Ki Seto (yellow Seto) bowls. The expertly thrown body is covered with the typical ash glaze inside and outside which has turned into yellow due to a slight iron oxide content in the clay.

The thick and glossy glaze (guinomi-de) has ...

Here we are proud to present another perfect early 17th. century chawan in museum quality.

Low cylinder shaped (hanzutsu) tea bowl made of light, fine but unrefined Mino clay with sone iron oxide content. The expertly thrown body is covered -with the exception of the bottom and the roughly cut foot ring - with the typical feldspatic Shino over an iron oxide based engobe. Akashino is just a variation of Nezumishino, due to the higher temperature (?) the glaze has turned red instead ...

Outstanding Ohi Chawan from the early stage of the Meiji Era (1868-1912) with a rarely seen octopus and coral sculpture on it. The outer earthy amber glaze harmonises wonderfully with the colourful interior landscape of the bowl. A firework of colours running into each other. What an impressive demonstration of the artistry of this 19th century artist. His seal is printed on the unglazed foot ring.

The mesmerizing play of tones of this particular vessel is yet another fine example o...

One of such rare antique Hagi Chawan with wonderful milky white glaze from the 18th century, perfectly thrown and highlighted with an old gold restoration, a fantastic gintsugi (kintsugi) which makes our Hagi tea bowl even more valuable and outstanding.

Like many of the great Japanese ceramic traditions of western Japan, Hagi originated with Korean potters. Indeed, in the Momoyama era (1573-1603) and in the early years of the Edo period (1603 - 1867), ceramics like Karatsu, Agano, ...

Distorted half cylinder shaped (kutsugata) tea bowl made of little iron bearing, coarse, unrefined Mino clay. The expertly thrown body, trimmed with a potters knife (hera) is covered with the typical, glossy black iron oxide inside and outside. Here it is a rarely seen dark brown due to a lack of manganese.

A window on the side has been left unglazed for decoration in iron oxide engobe under a clear ash glaze in a form of straight and wavy lines. This is a typical Momoyama design.

What an atmosphere, this is what the Japanese call wabi-sabi. Full cylinder shaped (Tsutsu) tea bowl with a rounded brim, made of light, very coarse, unrefined Hagi clay. The expertly thrown body was roughly trimmed with a potter's knife in its lower part. The rather high foot is traditionally cut in one place (so called 'wari kodai').

Our chawan was covered with an opaque glaze, which is a mixture of ash and feldspat. It shows a beautiful fine crazing from many years of careful us...

One-of-a-kind!!! This is an item sui generis. A yellow glazed Raku chawan, dating from the Meiji Period (ca. 120 years old) with its original signed wood box.

The chawan is in superb condition with no chips or cracks. Around the bowl are carved chinese characters. The tea bowl is very solid and fits perfectly into the palm of the hands. Great chawan!

Size: 9,6 cm height x 11,7 cm diameter.

This is a first class Kashiki of old Shino ware. It is 200 years old ( Edo Period ), beautiful distorted and has a tasteful painting.

Kashiki is the general term for bowls or plates to present biscuits and sweets for the tea ceremony.

It is an indispensable item for the authentic tea ceremony.

There is potter's mark. The name of the artist is Sozan. Nice antique condition with aesthetic inborn kiln cracks and with no repairs.

Size: 3,6'' Height x 6,9...

From our great collection of Japanese tea pots we offer you a superb Hobin tea pot, made during the Meiji period at the end of the 19th century.

It is slightly deformed, covered with rough Oni Hagi glaze and has fine crackle look with natural kiln cracks. It is signed on the bottom

Great antique condition with no cracks or repairs.

Ready to use.

Size: 3,4'' height, 3,9'' width.

One of our favorite chawans in our collection is this large E-Shino Tea Bowl, dating from the Meiji Period.

Consider it as one of the best masterpieces of Meiji era E-Shino chawans (Pictured Shino tea bowl), molded massively in the elegant Japanized distortion and completed with aesthetic smoothness.

The immaculate glaze with yuzu-hada (lemon skin) and the dark underglaze markings are some of the beautiful characteristics of Shino ware, which have been associated with th...