Chawan Chawan Tea Bowl Made of Raku Ware with Angler Motif

An angler with raised rod stands on the shore, a small animal resting at his feet – in fine, sepia-colored brushstrokes, this tea bowl tells a small story from the everyday life of times past. The scene is painted with a loose, sketch-like hand onto the finely crackled, ivory-colored glaze and recalls the ink painting of Chinese scholar paintings, a motif that was often adopted in Japanese ceramic art.

This Raku tea bowl is characterized by its low firing temperature and the resulting soft wall that feels pleasant to the touch. The reddish-brown glaze rim sets a warm accent against the light, creamy-white surface and emphasizes the cylindrical, slightly outward-flaring shape of the bowl. The fine crackle lines in the ceramic body lend the piece additional depth and make it appear even more characterful over time.

The bowl comes in a wooden box signed by the master potter and was made in the Heisei period. With its narrative painting, it is a piece of Japanese tea culture that is as well suited to daily use as it is to stylish display.