Accessories: Box, paulownia wood with inscription
Provenance: Sakai Masuya
Reference: Matsuyama Seikyu, Tsurezure no Tomo, Taisho Meiki Kan
Dimensions
Height: 5.8–6.1 cm, Mouth diameter: 14.0 cm, Foot diameter: 4.8 cm, Foot height: 0.9 cm, Weight: 240 g
This tea bowl was owned by Masuya, a wealthy merchant from Sakai, hence the name “Masuya Well.” Among blue well-style tea bowls, this is an exceptionally austere piece. The wheel-thrown form is undulating, giving the bowl an asymmetrical shape, and the foot is extremely thin on one side, with some areas worn away as if decayed. This form evokes the rustic charm of Karatsu root-removed ware.
The wheel marks are not particularly prominent, and the glaze is applied uniformly without significant variations in thickness. True to its name, the glaze has a bluish-brown color, with cracks, bubble marks, and reddish-black impurities spreading unevenly, creating a lonely and austere texture.
The sides and interior of the high foot are, as usual, slightly chipped, but due to the shallow carving, they are not particularly prominent. The interior features a swirling tea stain, surrounded by four reddish-black marks. The glaze on the inner surface shows snake-like twists in some areas, with red and black stains intermingling, adding an extra touch of interest.
Box: Paulownia wood, white finish, with inscription.
