Height 8.5 cm, mouth diameter 13.1 cm, base diameter 4.8 cm
This tea bowl once belonged to Matsudaira Fumai. In “Unshu Meibutsu Ki”, it is described as “Shinzoin Ko-Taratsu, Hako-Oku Korai, Okawa Seiwemon, Anei Fushimi, 10 pieces”. Shinzoin was a temple associated with Hosokawa Sansai, and the box probably belonged to the temple. On the back of the lid of the box, there are three Chinese characters written in ink, which the author is not sure of.
Unlike “Sanpo,” “Autumn Night,” “Itoya,” and other Okukorai wares, this piece has a deeper profile, is slightly thicker overall, and rises deeply and straightly on the potter’s wheel with gently rounded lines, and has a flat base. The height of the base is excellent, and the cutting inside the base is deep and clear at an angle, making the small width of the helmet stand out and give the piece a pleasant taste. The thickly glazed surface is softly burnished to the color of decayed leaves, and a portion of the glaze has a white, ume blossomskin-like appearance, which is extremely scenic. Compared to “Sanpou” and “Autumn Night,” the overall appearance of this piece is more subdued and neat. There are traces of ito-kiri (thread cutting) on the tatami mat on the high stand.
