Chawan Chawan Made of Shino Ware by Noritoshi Takagi

A milky-white Shino glaze settles over the walls of this tea bowl like hoarfrost, crossed by a strong, rust-red streak that runs diagonally across the entire height and shifts to bluish-gray in places. This so-called hi-iro coloring develops during firing through direct contact with the kiln flame and can never be fully predicted in its exact course, which is why each bowl remains a distinct unique work.

The slightly irregular, hand-formed walls with their organically wave-shaped rim stand in the tradition of Shino ware, which originated in the 16th century in Mino Province and is considered one of the first purely Japanese glazing techniques. The bowl bears the hallmark of Noritoshi Takagi, whose calm, compact shaping deliberately sets a restrained presence against the vivid coloring of the glaze. It is precisely in the interplay of quiet form and bold color gradation that the high craftsmanship of the firing process becomes apparent.

This tea bowl comes in a specially made, signed wooden box that protects the piece while also preserving its provenance. Whether for preparing matcha as part of the chanoyu ceremony or as a standalone display piece: with its shifting surface and wabi-sabi-influenced shaping, the bowl embodies the quiet beauty that has distinguished Japanese tea ceramics for centuries.