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

An unusual Seto Tea Bowl, shaped like a flower in the upper area, with stunning glaze and a wonderful foot ring, made around 100 years ago during the Taisho Period (1912-1926).

It is in great condition with no chips or cracks - ready to use for the tea ceremony.

Ceramics produced in Seto City are known as Setomono (Seto ware), which has become a generic word for ceramics not only in Japan but also world-wide...

Slightly distorted Kuro Oribe Chawan from the mid 19th century (late Edo) 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...

A rare Kuro Raku Chawan by the 7th-generation successor of Raku ware, Kichizaemon Chonyu (1714-1770).

It comes in fine antique condition with a very old red Urushi lacquer Kintsugi and its antique wooden box with an attestation and appraisal of the Urasenke Tea House "Shikien" Kyoto, signed and sealed in 1950.

Born as the eldest son of the 6th generation Sanyu, he took over as the head of the family and didn’t retire until age 49, later passing away at age 57...

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

It comes together with its wooden box and the authentication and appraisal of Soshu Mori, a former chief priest of the Daitoku-Ji Temple 大徳寺 Kyoto...

A beautifully crafted and remarkable example of an early Edo period (1603-1868) Raku Chawan. This bowl is strongly reminiscent of the Chōjirō tea bowls, the first head of the Raku family.

This exceptionally well-crafted tea bowl has a very meditative presence and reveals its highlights of a typically Momoyama Period classic black glaze. It comes with an old Japanese wooden box...

Late Edo (1603-1868) Period Shino Chawan with all highlights of the Japanese aesthetics of wabi sabi. It is in perfect antique condition and comes with its original wooden box, a cloth bag (shifuku) and the attestation of a tea master inside.

Shino-ware dates to the Momoyama period when potters were attempting to recreate white porcelain-wares that were being imported from China at the time. Originally they were made in single-chamber anagama style kilns set into the hillsides...

Hard to find: Large antique Kyo-yaki Suiseiji Mizutori Suichu (also called "mizutsugi").It is a Japanese ewer, an utensil used in the sado and sencha tea ceremony to replenish the jar that holds water for rinsing teabowls and filling the iron kettle at the tea ceremony.

This wonderful antique celadon suichu was made around the end of the 19th century during the Japanese Meiji Period...

Pure Kuro-Raku Chawan by the 11th generation Keinyu Kichizaemon (1817-1902) enclosed in its signed and sealed wooden box and made around the end of 19th century about 120-130 years ago. The inside of the wooden box lid bears an appraisal of the 14th headmaster of the Urasenke Tea School, Sekisō Sōshitsu 碩叟 宗室 (1893-1964), Mugensai無限斎...

A really old Japanese lacquer wooden mizusashi for the tea ceremony, made of cherry wood with its original lacquered lid. It dates from the later Edo Period. Such wooden mizusashis are really rare. It is elegantly proportioned and has a black lacquered interior.

Mizusashi is a fresh water jar with a lid used in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony to fill the boiling kettle and rinse the tea bowls...

Splendid Kuro Raku Chawan by one of the most important potters of all time, the 3rd Raku Donyu 三代 楽吉左衛門 道入 (1599 - 1656) also known as Nonko. It was made around 1650 and was named 'Hekigan' which means 'Pale blue water of a mountain stream'.

It comes in great antique condition...

A rare Seto Chawan with wonderful glaze made by one of the best potters of the early 20th century - the 1st Shuntei Kato (1885 - 1961). This tea bowl was made over 100 years ago and it comes with the originally signed wooden box of the artist.

His real name is Kanae KATO. He was born 1885 as the third son of Shunsen KATO.

In 1907 he established a branch family, named himself Shuntei and became the first generation...

Impressive antique Kuro Raku Chawan, over 100 years old, by great artist Rintaro Ohashi with family crest. The bowl was made in Taishō era 8 (1919), its also written on the inside of the lid. I comes with the originally signed and sealed wooden box.

No chips or cracks.

Size: 8,2 cm high x 11,8 cm in diameter.

A wonderful modelled Kuro Raku tea bowl covered with a beautiful black glaze - made by legendary 12th generation Kichizaemon Kônyû (1857-1932) in the style of the 8th TOKUNYU, Kichizaemon Raku...

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 different colors of glaze it's outstanding.

The lightness of the clay, the soft silky textures of the glaze, and the mastery of form are all signatures of a kiln of excellence backed by generations o...

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 originally 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!

No chips or cracks.

Size: 8,6 cm height x 11,9 cm in diameter.

A magnificent Karatsu Katakuchi Chawan (Karatsu tea bowl with a pouring spout), fired around 1850 during the Edo Period (1603-1868).

It is no exaggeration to say that this tea bowl needs to be described as a true museum quality piece of art.

Especially such old Karatsu bowls are rarely available in the version of a Katakuchi bowl. Essentially, it's a bowl with a spout. But not just any bowl: its details are specially designed for the preparation of Matcha. It allows you to...

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...

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: Edo Period Ichimonji Utsushi Raku Chawan on high flared and cut (warikodai) foot by the 11th Zengoro Eiraku (Eiraku Hozen), made in the mid 19th century. A horizontal line is molded on the body, it's the Japanese character "ichi" - one!. (Please see last picture to see an antique Ichimonji Chawan in Korean style from the Ulrich Vollmer Collection Berlin). This is one of the rare tea bowls of Eiraku Hozen fired with a lower temperature in the style of Raku ceramics. Beside th...

Heavily distorted shoe shaped (kutsu) Kuro Oribe Chawan from the mid 19th century (late Edo) 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.

A window has been left unglazed and shows a typical Momoyama era design. The somewhat irregular foot reminds of the late production of Oribe tea bowls of the 1620-ies at th...

Late Edo (1603-1868) Period Shino Chawan with all highlights of the Japanese aesthetics of wabi sabi and a Zen buddhistic infinity symbol.

It is in perfect antique condition and comes with an antique wooden box.

Shino-ware dates to the Momoyama period when potters were attempting to recreate white porcelain-wares that were being imported from China at the time. Originally they were made in single-chamber anagama style kilns set into the hillsides. Later, with the advent of...

A flawless and covered Japanese Mizusashi (cold water container/stoneware jug) for the tea ceremony from the early Edo period.

This antique Seto Mizusashi is designed with floral motives and Japanese poetry and comes with a dedicated tomobako wooden box.

Although the Japanese word for the tea ceremony, chanoyu, literally means “hot water for tea,” the practice involves much more than its name implies. Chanoyu is a ritualized, secular practice in which tea is consumed ...

A beautifully crafted and remarkable example of Edo period Raku pottery. Iridescent reds rise like a deep space cloud from the meteoric surface of this 300 year old Kuro Raku Chawan.

This exceptionally well-crafted tea bowl has a very meditative presence and reveals its highlights of various shades of red through a classic black glaze when held up to the light.

Characterized by a complex glaze texture achieved through kiln firing in contrast to the simplicity of the form.

A large Kuro-Oribe chawan, hand thrown and carved from fine Mino clay during the later Meiji Period (1868 - 1912). It comes with a very good Japanese wooden box.

Oribe-yaki – I guess no other pottery had a greater influence on the aesthetics of Japanese pottery.

Oribe ware is a historically important Japanese pottery variety that emerged during the late Momoyama and early Edo periods in Tajimi, in modern day Gifu prefecture.

Developed under and named after th...

One of the extremely rare Raku tea bowls by one of the best artists in the history of Japan, Eiraku Hozen, made during the late Edo Period.

Eiraku's style includes all ceramic techniques of China, Korea and Japan, which were appreciated at that time, such as Cochin, celadon, blue and white porcelain, Raku-yaki, Shunsui, Akae, Kinrande, Jinsei copies and Goryeo copies. With his diverse resources, he has created a new tea pottery that goes beyond mere imitation and reflects the taste...

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.

The young pine tree decoration is a popular attribute of New Y...

Very sophisticated and fine mid Edo Period Hirado Mizusashi for the Japanese Tea Ceremony with its original lid.

Hirado wares—alternately known as Mikawachi wares in some contexts—are known throughout Japan and also abroad for their high quality and fine craftsmanship and date back at least as far as the mid-18th century when they were produced exclusively for powerful lords and their families. During this time Hirado ware was popular for the water jars used to hold the cold wa...

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...

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. The wheels were additionally highlighted with...

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...

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 ...

One of the very rare Buddhist Tea Bowls with a sculptural image of Bodhidharma Daruma. The incomparable Seto-yaki tea bowl was made at the end of 19th century and is in great antique condition with no cracks or repairs.

The historical Bodhidharma (known as Daruma in Japan) was an Indian sage who lived sometime in the fifth or sixth century AD. He is commonly considered the founder of Chan (Zen) Buddhism 禅, and credited with Chan's introduction to China. (Important Note: Zen is the...

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...

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 magnificent Kogaratsu Katakuchi Chawan (Ko-Karatsu tea bowl with a pouring spout), fired between the Azushi Momoyama period (1573-1603) and the early stage of the Edo Period (1603-1868).

It is no exaggeration to say that this tea bowl needs to be described as a true museum quality piece of art.

Especially such old Karatsu bowls are rarely available in the version of a Katakuchi bowl. Essentially, it's a bowl with a spout. But not just any bowl: its details are special...