Edo Period Kuro Raku Chawan

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.

Raku tea bowls like this one are made by hand, without the use of a potter's wheel. In the process of forming the bowls, the potters handle the tea bowls in much the same way that users will hold them while drinking from them. This creates a connection between the creator of the tea bowl and the participants in the tea ceremony. For this and other reasons, raku bowls are a favorite of tea practitioners throughout Japan.

The molded clay contrasts beautifully with the deep black glaze, and the soft sheen of the raku glaze over the rippled and shaved clay gives this bowl a distinct presence.

A hasami-no-ato mark can be seen where the tongs were used to remove this piece from the kiln, and a potters mark can be seen near the foot of the bowl.

The Kuro Raku tea bowl is in good antique condition with no repairs and comes with a very old Japanese wooden box.

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