Height 7.3cm, Bowl diameter 9.9-10.1cm, Base diameter 5.2cm
In contrast to the strong and ethereal poetic sentiment of the waterfall landscape teacup, this bowl depicts a plum grove with red and white plum blossoms in bloom in a gentle and soft design, probably an early work in the history of Qianzan ware.
The mouth rim, plum trunk and branches are underglaze painted with iron pigments, while the flowers in white mud and dots in gosu are underglazed, and the flowers, branches and stamens are overglazed with red, green and yellow pigments after being glazed with transparent glaze and fired. The use of underglaze and overglaze painting is a unique innovation of Kenzan’s, resulting in a graceful design. The glazed surface is speckled with a light red color, commonly called “Gohon,” which gives the piece a softer texture.
It has a simple semi-cylindrical shape with a low carved ring base, and the two characters “Qianzan” are written under the glaze in iron pigments next to the base, which is showing clay. The clay used for the body is probably what Qianzan called “Gogi Te-do,” using clay from Kurodani, Kyoto, as described in his own handwritten pottery manual “Toko Hitsuyo” (Essentials for Potters), and it has the softest texture of all the Qianzan ware tea bowls.
