Aka Raku Chawan with real Kintsugi by greatest Kichizaemon Tan-nyu

Antique Aka Raku Chawan by greatest Kichizaemon Tan-nyu, ennobled with a REAL kintsugi gold repair.

Half cylinder shaped (Hanzutsu) tea bowl with a rounded brim, in the typical hand built style of the Raku family. The body is fully covered with a white engobe before the red glaze was applied.

The red glaze turned to to grey where it got in contact with charcoal in the kiln. The bowl has a beautiful repair in real kintsugi (gold lacquer); it is signed next to the foot ring with Tan-nyu's seal.

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. This gave him tremendous experience throughout the world of Japanese ceramics with different clays and glazes, expanding the family repertoire into Oribe, Iga and Seto ware in addition to the traditional Kyoto wares. Works by him are held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art among many others.

The antique wooden box needs some reglueing. It is inscribed on the lid: Aka Chawan Kichizaemon Raku and Seal of Tan-nyu.

Size: 8,2 cm height x 12,5 cm in diameter.