Height 4.7 cm, mouth diameter 6.7 cm, base diameter 3.2 cm
This is a so-called “Dutch copy” of a soft pottery fired in the Delft area of the Netherlands, and should be considered a rare example among Kume’s sencha bowls. The bowl has a plain white glaze with a soft texture, and the inner surface is plain, while the outer surface is decorated with a design of fish, shrimp, crabs, shellfish, and water plants in red lines and light and dark overglaze painting. The brush strokes are delicate in a way that is unique to Kiime, and the composition of the patterns, which make full use of the blank spaces, is very interesting and lovable. The high, deeply carved base is inscribed “Kizou” in red as well. The five pieces are presented together in a common box, and the inscription on the lid reads, “Imitated Chinese Tea Jong (礬知茶鍾), commissioned by Ogauyu Gahaku (鷗雨雅伯), made by Yone Zukuri (米造),” indicating that it was made for Ogauyu Iwasaki, who was one of Kikome’s friends.
