Famous item
Major famous item
Accessories: Outer box, paulownia wood, label, sticker
Provenance: Hosokawa Sansai – Sendai Date family – Edo Fuyuki family – Matsudaira Fumai – Seishi Gessan
Recorded in
Collection of Famous Antiques Throughout the Ages, Collection of Famous Tea Bowls, Honya Ryoun’s Record of Efforts, Fushimiya’s Notes, Fushimiya Jinbei, Oosaki-sama’s Personal Tea Utensils, Matsudaira Fumai’s Biography, Fumai’s Record of Famous Tea Gatherings, Tokyo Tea Gatherings, Volume 3, Part 1, Taishō Era Famous Artifacts Guide
Dimensions
Height: 9.1–9.6 cm Mouth diameter: 15.9 cm Foot diameter: 5.7 cm Height from foot: 1.9 cm Weight: 440 g
Originally owned by Hosokawa Sanza, it was called the Hosokawa Well and was renowned as a national treasure from an early period. It later passed through the Date and Fuyuki families before becoming the property of Matsudaira Fumai, who is said to have cherished it greatly. In contrast to the bold and vigorous works of Kisaemon and Tsutsui Tsutsu, this well demonstrates a gentle and graceful style, clearly reflecting the taste of Matsudaira Fumai.
The bowl is skillfully shaped on a fast-turning wheel, with the wheel marks barely visible. As is customary, the area from the side of the high foot to the high foot itself was carved out afterward, but this was done with great care, resulting in a uniform finish. The white glaze that has accumulated here forms the expected “kairagi” pattern, but it does not form large grains; instead, the glaze surface cracks in a snake-like pattern. This is because the base was not carved too roughly. As a well, it is rare for the clay and glaze to blend so well, and the glaze on the upper part and the rim has fine cracks, with little lacquer finish, resulting in this soft texture.
Outer box: Paulownia wood, white lacquer, with a label and sticker.
