Chawan Sakura - Chawan Made of Koda Ware

Two delicate cherry blossoms in pure white seem to float weightlessly above the sand-colored body of this hand-thrown tea bowl. Fine lines drawn with a thin brush suggest branches and wind, lending the simple chawan an almost poetic lightness. The matte, warm clay color shifts from light beige to a delicate pink toward the lower part of the body, underscoring the reduced, calm design of the piece.

Sakura, the cherry blossom, is one of the most significant symbols of Japanese aesthetics: it stands for the fleeting beauty of the moment and the transience of life. In tea ceramics the motif therefore usually appears placed with restraint, as here, where the blossoms deliberately leave space around themselves rather than filling the surface. The hand-thrown form with its slightly irregular rim makes the bowl a true unique work.

This chawan made of traditional Koda ware is suitable both for daily tea enjoyment and as a decorative one-of-a-kind piece. Its clear, understated formal language fits into almost any setting and invites one to experience the stillness and concentration of the Japanese tea ceremony at home.