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: ninsei (ninsei; 仁清). Ninsei was a late 17th Century Kyoto potter. He is said to have codified the colorful motifs that can be seen on many kyō-yaki bowls today. This bowl is one of the contemporary pieces that adhere to his style of traditional kyoto ware motifs.
Motif: a belt of shippō emblems (obi shippō; 帯七宝). This motif is a belt around the body of the vessel including a connected row of successive shippō emblems. The shippō crest is the house crest of the Kobori family and is a favored motif in the Enshū tradition.
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.
RJ (verified owner) –
A delightfully colorful bowl. The Shippo crests are all outlined with gold strokes that have a playful, child-like quality to them. What you cannot see well in the photos are the tiny cracks in the glaze, which are mesmerizing to look at.
The bowl is light weight, with high walls for whisking. The foot and the foot to rim ratio make it very easy to handle. The inner bowl is very smooth, with a smooth divot in the center. The thin walls cool the tea quickly, which makes it a great hot weather bowl. It is a pleasure to use.