Chawan Chawan Made of Nezumi-Shino by Shuichi Sawada with Grass Decoration

Fine, almost grass-like lines of creamy white glaze run diagonally across the bluish-gray wall of this tea bowl, interrupted by warm, rust-orange patches that resemble small traces of fire. This lively interplay of color and texture is characteristic of the Nezumi-Shino variant, in which an iron slip is applied beneath the actual Shino glaze, producing a multilayered pattern of color during firing.

The fine dark speckles that spread evenly across the entire surface arise from the iron content in the clay body and reinforce the earthy, immediate character of the bowl. The slightly wavy rim line and the palpable throwing grooves on the wall attest to the handcraft at the potter's wheel by Shuichi Sawada, whose shaping of the bowl lends it a quiet balance despite its bold coloring.

This tea bowl comes in a wooden box signed by the master potter and was created in the Heisei period. With its expressive glaze, it is an impressive example of contemporary Shino ware for the tea ceremony or as a collector's item.