(Roji Path) This is a very nice aquatint etching by San Francisco Japanese artist, and Japanese tea ceremony teacher, Kimika Takechi. It is of a roji path scene in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony garden. She has had many art shows in the San Francisco Bay Area and is in many private collections. This print is from the artists collection. It measures 4 11/16" X 6 13/16" on a 10 7/8" X 11 1/8" paper. It is edition 86/100 and is signed by the artist and dated 1987 and is in mint condition. (Large Images) (inquiries email TeaArt@chanoyu.com) $125
(Kuro Oribe Kutsugata Chawan) This is a very fine Kuro Oribe (black Oribe) Kutsugata (shoe shaped) chawan used in the Japanese tea ceremony. It is 3" in height and is 4 1/4" X 6" at the top. The foot is 2 1/4" X 2 3/4" and the bowl weighs 560gm (19 1/2 oz.). The bowl comes with a high quality kiri (paulownia) wood box with a poetic name inscription under the lid by Sen Soshitsu XV (Hounsai Daisosho), the now retired 15th generation Head Tea Master of the Urasenke Tea School in Kyoto, Japan. The inscription reads from right to left "Oribe Chawan, Kan Sho [leisure pine] and the cipher of Hounsai." This bowl was purchased at an antique store in Kyoto around 26 years ago and is in very fine condition. The bowl is thickly potted with a very fine balance throughout. There are natural kiln firing flaws that are normal for a bowl of this type. The age is unknown. It has been checked with a black light and there are no repairs or alterations. (inquiries email TeaArt@chanoyu.com) Sold
(Ueda Naokata Shigaraki Chawan) This is a fabulous and rare chawan, Japanese tea ceremony bowl, by the famous Shigaraki potter Ueda Naokata (b. 1927). The bowl is an utsushi (copy) of the famous Kobori Enshu "Hana Tachibana" bowl (pictured in the Shigaraki book by Louise Allison Cort). The original Enshu bowl is also referenced on page 280 of the "Chado" book by Sasaki Sanmi. Ueda Naokata is the 5th generation in his family to make Shigaraki ware and is designated as an Intangible Cultural Property in Shiga Prefecture. The bowl is 2 1/2" in height and is 4 1/2" X 5 3/4" at the top. The wonderful square cut foot is 1 3/4" in diameter. The bowl weighs 240gm (8 1/2 oz.). The Naokata stamp is stamped inside of the foot of the bowl (see photo). This famous bowl is in the style of a brush washing bowl. It comes with its original signed box and wrapping paper. The writing on the box reads from right to left "Shigaraki Chawan, Enshu Konomi, Hana Tachibana, Naokata Zo." The bowl is in very fine condition with only natural kiln firing flaws that are common to this type of ware. It has been checked with a black light and there are no repairs or alterations. The original paulownia wood box has a few moisture stains. The bowl was probably made 35+ years ago. A real treasure from one of the great Shigaraki potters. (inquiries email TeaArt@chanoyu.com) Sold
(Raku Yaki Chawan) This is a very nice black Raku Yaki Japanese tea ceremony chawan. It is 3 1/2" in height and the diameter at the top is 4 1/4" and the foot is 1 3/4". The weight is 370gm (13 oz.) It comes with its original signed kiri (paulownia) wood box. The outside lid of the box reads from right to left "Tenpo Kuro Chawan (and the red stamp looks like Tenpo?)". The underside of the lid reads from right to left "Mei [poetic name], Fuku Ju [good luck and auspiciousness/happiness], and a cipher". The characters for Tenpo are heaven and phoenix. This bowl was purchased at an antique store in Osaka, Japan around 28 years ago. Not much is know about the kiln other than it was located in Takatsuki near Kyoto & Osaka and it may have been a kiln within a temple. The condition is excellent. It has been checked with a black light and there are no repairs or alterations. (inquiries email TeaArt@chanoyu.com) Sold
(Bizen Shino Chawan) This is a very fine Bizen Shino Japanese tea ceremony chawan, or tea bowl, by Fujiwara Kyosuke (b.1939). He is the son of Bizen Living National Treasure Fujiwara Kei (1899-1983) and the younger brother of Bizen LNT Fujiwara Yu (1932-2001). The bowl is 3 3/4" in height and 4 1/2" in diameter and the foot is 2 1/2" in diameter. The bowl weighs approx. 1# (454gm). This bowl is well balanced with a very strong foot. The Shino glaze is thick and beautiful. It comes with its original signed box ("Bizen Shino Chawan Kyosuke"). It also has a poetic name "MUSHIN" (empty mind) given by Onozawa Kankai Osho, the retired abbot of the Jukoin Temple at Daitokuji. He has signed the underside of the lid "Bizen Shino Chawan, Fujiwara Kyosuke Zo, Mei - MUSHIN, Juko Shokan Kankai and his cipher"). This bowl was made about 30+ years ago and is in perfect condition. There is some natural crazing from normal use on the inside bottom of the bowl. (inquiries email TeaArt@chanoyu.com) Sold
(Tantansai Konomi Nami Shippo Chawan) This is a fine Kyoyaki teabowl by the Kyoto potter Kyuho and is approximately 50+ years old. It is the konomi (preferred or design) of Tantansai, the Urasenke 14th Head Tea Master (1893-1964) and is called "Nami Shippo". The bowl measures approx. 2 7/8" in height and 4 7/8" in diameter. It has the design of fish, lobster and whirlpool as well as silver and blue waves in a gold rim design. The box is kiri (paulownia) wood. Tantansai has signed under the lid of the box from (r to l): "Kyuho zo, Nami Shippo Chawan, Konomi, Konnichishu and his cipher". The bottom of the box is signed by the potter: "Kyuho zo and his stamp". Kyuho has also used his incised stamp on the inside of the foot of the bowl. There are 2 very tight hairlines that were difficult to photograph. One is approx. 7/8" inside the bowl and extends over the lip and 3/8" outside. The other is approx. 3/4" inside the bowl and extends over the lip and 1/8" outside. These hairlines are very tight and there are no chips associated with them. There is also one very tiny natural kiln glaze pop inside the bottom of the bowl. (NOTE - The bowl is perfectly fine to make and drink tea from.) The colors are very nice and the overall condition shows minimal use wear. The bowl has been checked with a black light and there are no visible repairs. (Large Images) (inquiries email TeaArt@chanoyu.com) $1,100
(Takahashi Rakusai Chawan) This is a fine Shigaraki chawan tea bowl by the renowned potter Takahashi Rakusai IV (b.1926). The bowl is 4 7/8" in diameter and 3" in height. The foot is 2 1/2" in diameter. The bowl has a very lovely soft brown glaze with iridescent overtones from the natural wood firing. A couple of places on the bowl have been left intentionally unglazed to show the Shigaraki clay. The bowl is in perfect condition and appears to have had little to no use. It has been checked with a black light and there are no repairs or restorations. It comes with its original signed paulownia wood box. It reads from (r to l) "Shigaraki Chawan Rakusai (and the red Rakusai stamp). The bowl weighs 3/4lb (350gm). (inquiries email TeaArt@chanoyu.com) Sold