Chawan Chawan Made of Raku Ware by Ryoraku Heian

A warm, almost glowing red dominates this tea bowl, lending it an unusually powerful presence. Dark, cloud-like shadings run across the wall, breaking up the intense glaze color so that a lively, almost painterly surface image emerges. The slightly irregular, hand-formed silhouette with its gently drawn-in foot underscores the distinctive character of the Aka-Raku tradition.

Raku ware has for centuries been regarded as the preferred vessel of the Japanese tea ceremony, as its porous, warm wall pleasantly tempers the tea while at the same time embodying the philosophy of wabi-sabi – the appreciation of the imperfect and the transient. This tea bowl bears the signature of Ryoraku Heian, which, together with further characters, is found on the accompanying wood box and attests to the piece's provenance.

The signed wood box in which the bowl is delivered not only protects its delicate exterior but also confirms its authenticity. For devotees of the tea ceremony as well as for collectors of Japanese ceramics, this Aka-Raku chawan is a piece of rare expressive power that unites tradition and vivid coloring in a distinctive way.