Ko-mishima Chawan – Matcha Tea Bowl by Yohei Nakamura

Traditional matcha tea bowl for use in the tea ceremony. Tea bowls used for tea ceremony practice are preferred to have traditional shapes and motifs. They often are imitations of famous tea bowls that were selected as preferred and valued vessels by the tea masters of old. The description of such bowls is often divided into shape, and  style or motif. Shapes often resemble ‘everyday’ objects that have a significance in Japanese culture. Motifs are commonly preferred applications and styles of craftsmanship.

Cultural significance of the bowl in question:

Shape: standard.

Motif: traditional mishima-style (ko-mishima; 古三島). Mishima earthenware was first created on the Korean peninsula during the Joseon period during the 15th and 16th Century. The Mishima style refers to earthenware of part-porcelain, part-clay, grey soil with a good amount of iron; on the surface of which, with varying methods, designs are applied using white masking glaze. This bowl is decorated with chrysanthemum shaped stamps of which the indentations are filled up again with a white-clay masking glaze to bring out the designs more prominently.

Product specifications

Tea bowl size: D14.5cm x H7.5cm
Packaging: cardboard box

About the artist: Yohei Nakamura

Born in Kyoto in 1950. Graduated from the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramists’ Technical Institute in 1965; entered apprenticeship with pottery master Josui Katō. Received the mayor’s prize at the traditional industries fair in 1966. Received the Kyoto Association of Ceramics prize in 1970. Received the mayor’s prize at the Sumie exhibition in Tokyo in 1971. Received the director’s prize at the Kyoto Cooperative of Ceramics’ Kyo-yaki/Kiyomizu-yaki exhibition in 1983. And received the Mayor’s prize at the pottery figures and ceramics exhibition the same year.