Kuro Raku Chawan by greatest 12th generation Raku Kichizaemon Kônyû

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. The seal of the potter is stamped on the bottom. The original wooden box with his sign and signature is also included.

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.

His Kuro Raku wares are famous for their skillful art, using double layering glazes. He is also well known for his Aka (red) Raku ceramics and his dynamic use of spatula.

This superb bowl, made more than 100 years ago, is one of Kônyû’s finest and most iconic creations. It highlights his honed sense of proportion, tactility, and color balance.

As is customary in the Raku family, Kônyû has also made several tea bowls as a reminder of his ancestors, including this very bowl, which is reminiscent of the style of Tokunyu Kichizaemon (1745-1774).

Tokunyu was born as the eldest son of Chonyu, the 7th head. He was named Sokichi at birth and he was later renamed Eisei. He inherited the headship at 18, but when his father Chonyu passed away when he was 26, he also passed on the headship to his younger brother Sojiro (later Ryonyu), who was 15, because he had a weak constitution. He changed his name to Sabe and retired. He never married and passed away at the young age of 30. The name “Tokunyu” was given to him on the occasion of the 25th memorial service to his passing, and his posthumous name was changed to “Kengiin Tokunyu Nippu Koji.”

As Tokunyu fell ill at a young age, he was the head for no more than about nine years, and even if we assume that he continued to make pottery until his death, the period was short and Tokunyu’s number of works is the smallest in the family’s history. Moreover, since Tokunyu’s works are from his youth, he was not able to properly develop his own individuality or originality, but they are already well-made as chawan (teabowls). Many of the chawan reveal a strong influence from his father Chonyu, and we can also sense how he sought to learn from the Rikyi-style Chojiro chawan, which could be termed the basics of Rake chawan. This is particularly evident in his red chawan, and we may sense an innocence in the youngish, honest attitude with which he tried to come to terms with the spirit of tea and the Raku chawan at such a young age.

He also made black Raku chawan that were exceptionally well-made as chawan, as can be seen in his “Joban” and the Kamenoe chawan “Mandai no tomo.” However, it does not seem that his black glaze achieved an original quality, so it is probable that he used the glaze of his father Chonyu. Representative works include the aforementioned “Joban” and “Mandai no tomo,” as well as some red chawan that give off an air of innocence.

No chips or cracks.

Size: 7,1 cm height x 11,3 cm in diameter.