Important Cultural Property
Provenance
Yamashina Bishamon-do – Hirase Ouka (early Meiji period) – Kagawa Murahiko family – Katayama Sokou
Dimensions
Height: 6.4–6.8 cm, Mouth diameter: 13.7–14.2 cm, Foot diameter: 5.5 cm, Height from base: 0.9 cm, Weight: 290 g
Owner: Tokyo Hatakeyama Memorial Museum
Originally housed in the Bishamon-do Temple in Yamashina, hence the inscription. Alongside those from Otsu, these are regarded as the twin masterpieces of persimmon-stem-shaped tea bowls. The waist stands firmly, giving it a robust form, and the sharp, elegant curve of the rim is unparalleled, making it a particularly important feature of this tea bowl.
The glaze is extremely thin, giving the surface a rough texture that enhances the tea’s charm. The body features a fire-cracked pattern, and iron particles in the clay melt in spots, adding a sense of solitude. The rim is wide, with four eyes. The sharp design and profound sense of solitude make this piece truly remarkable.
