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An Intriguing Chawan


sabi

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Good evening NMB! I've been pretty quiet as of late, but did manage to pick up a new tea bowl recently...

 

This chawan has a bit of age behind it, although determining exactly how much will require some study. It is in my opinion a lovely example of Mino-Karatsu ware. Fired in Mino and using the local coarse, refined clay, but with a Karatsu style coloring and iron glaze decoration. A natural combination with roots beginning in the late 16th C. Much like we see in iron sukashi tsuba of this period, the cross-pollenation of ceramic styles occurred rapidly within the flourishing times.

 

Several years before the Mino wares that now bare his name went into production, Furuta Oribe stayed at Hizen Nagoya Castle near Karatsu. In 1592 when Hideyoshi was busy invading the Korea, Oribe is recorded as having visited the nearby kilns and given instruction to those working there. In 1597, the Mino Potter Kago Kagenobu visited Karatsu to study the radical new climbing kilns that had been recently introduced to the area from Korea. Having brought back knowledge of the noborigama to his home province, Oribe ware began to be made inside of its multi-chambered walls. Simultaneously, due in part to the popularity of the tea ceremony and its shift towards domestic wares, ceramic commerce was booming. This resulted in potters having increased exposure to works from other kilns, and also sparked an interest in emulating them.

 

This bowl is slung low and wide in Mino fashion, its shape slightly distorted with subtle finger grooves wrapping around parts of the body. Glazed in a rather carefree manner, the variation produces a range of colors from a creamy, almost pistachio hue in the heavier areas, to a warm peach tone on the underside where its application thinner. Dappled on the semi-roughly formed foot is a "fingerprint" left by the glazing process. In addition to the surrounding bare clay, there are several "windows" throughout where the bowl's "flavor" can be observed. The iron based brush work rounds out the Karatsu derived color pallette, but its subject matter and execution have much more in common with Oribe vessels. The presentation side features a bold and dynamic geometric design likely inspired by textile patterns. On the reverse sits a lattice resembling a tea garden fence alongside one of the most widely used Oribe motifs in two stylized plum blossoms.

 

Generally, the boxes that come with any given work are largely uninteresting, however that's certainly not the case here. Note the patina of the wood and extensive insect damage, perfectly encapsulating the wabicha spirit. The lid bears an inscription by who I assume was a former owner that confirms it as a Mino-Karatsu type vessel, and gives a nod to the designs used. It also came with a high quality silk shifuku which appears to have been made for this particular bowl, but unfortunately I spaced on getting a picture of it...

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