Height 8.5 cm, mouth diameter 10.7 cm, base diameter 4.9 cm
This tea bowl was once in the possession of the Konoike family in Osaka, and is said to have been handed down to Rikyu, as the front of the lid of the box reads, “By Hokkou Douchen, a favorite of Rikyu. The shape of this tea bowl is different from the Tenmoku tea bowl, and is very similar to the so-called “Soyei-shaped” Chojiro tea bowl, which was fired by Chojiro in Kyoto around Tensho 14, according to Rikyu’s preference. Therefore, if this bowl was made in Mino by Michichen, who died in 1562 (Eiroku 5), as tradition has it, it is noteworthy as a precursor of the Rikyu style that became popular during the Tensho period. Recent excavations of old kiln sites have confirmed that this type of ware was produced during the Eiroku period. The wheel-thrown molding is quite neat.
