Chawan Chawan with Iris Motif Made of Kyoto Ware by Eiho Hashimoto

Purple and white irises grow along the bank of a stream spanned by a narrow wooden bridge – this classic Yatsuhashi motif, which derives from a famous episode in the 'Ise Monogatari', the Tales of Ise, decorates the wall of this finely painted tea bowl. With gently curving outlines and vivid accents of purple, green, and gold, the motif unfolds like a small pictorial narrative around the entire bowl.

The elaborate overglaze painting with its fine gold lines is typical of the sophisticated Kyo-yaki tradition, cultivated for centuries in the workshops of the former imperial city of Kyoto. The ivory-colored ground with its fine crackle forms a quiet backdrop against which the floral elements stand out with particular plasticity. This bowl was made by Eiho Hashimoto, whose stamp complements the meticulous execution of the painting.

The tea bowl comes in a wooden box signed by the potter and was created during the Heisei period. With its poetic motif, it unites literary tradition and ceramic craftsmanship into an evocative whole.