Hakeme Karatsu Tea Bowl - Momoyama/early Edo

Surely an extraordinary confluence of circumstances must have come into alignment in order to bring this remarkable composition into existence. Done in the Korai style - referring to the heavy influence from Korean forms and glazing - this exquisite late Momoyama/early Edo period (1590-1620) Karatsu-ware tea bowl is really rare.

Regular formed wan shaped, showing fine finger marks from throwing. The iron bearing clay remained unglazed at the footring and its surrounding area, which had been trimmed when the clay was leather hard, resulting in a rough surface called chirimen (actually Japanese for crepe de chine).

The clay is very rough, with relative large enclusures and a hole inside the foot ring resulting from a piece of wood in the unrefined clay. Under the ash glaze a decoration in white slip had been applied with a brush.

Inside the bowl the center was left unglazed to allow firing in staples.

Great antique condition. A must have for any collector of Japanese tea bowls.

The bowl comes with an old Japanese wooden box.

Size: 6,5 cm height x 16,8 cm in diameter.