Revival Masterpiece
Accessories
Inner box: Paulownia wood with white wood inscription by Hiraka Tsuyuka; Outer box: Cypress wood with white wood inscription by the same artist
Provenance
Chigusa Prime Minister’s Family – Edo Fuyuki Family – Osaka Hiraka Family
References
Fushimiya Memoirs, Chigusa Revival Masterpieces, Collection of Famous Tea Bowls, Taisho Tea Ceremony Records, Taisho Masterpieces Catalog
Dimensions
Height: 6.7–7.3 cm, Mouth diameter: 14.0–14.7 cm, Foot diameter: 5.7 cm, Foot height: 0.8 cm, Weight: 280 g
This name is inscribed because it was owned by the Chigusa Prime Minister’s family. It is a masterpiece of ancient Iraho, and is known to be one of only two bowls passed down from Fuma.The body is made of sand-mixed brown clay, with a glaze divided into Iroha and well glaze, revealing the clay beneath. The shape is rounded at the waist with a slightly curved rim, and the foot is large, characteristic of Iroha ware. As the name suggests, the surface is rough and grainy, with stone particles creating a textured pattern. The rim has a cut-back design, and the characteristic Iroha “bebe” pattern is also visible.The two-glaze partial body change is the most notable feature both inside and out. The interior has brush marks from the well glaze, while the exterior well glaze around the foot has glaze accumulation, or even fire marks, giving it a deep tea-like quality.The design, which combines the subdued glaze texture with the elegance of the single-sided glaze change to add brightness, is worthy of praise. Based on the style, it appears to be a type of tea bowl originally made in the early Edo period near Busan.
