Accessories: Box, paulownia and cypress jointed, with appraisal certificate written by Ikushima Tatsuza
Provenance: Masuda Don’o
Dimensions
Height: 7.1 cm, mouth diameter: 11.9 cm, foot diameter: 8.0 cm, same height: 0.6 cm, weight: 310 g
This is a separate piece from a tea bowl set. It was the remarkable insight of a tea master who recognized its potential as a tea bowl. It is unclear when and by which tea master this tea bowl was first used as such.
The kiln is from the Mino region, and during an excavation survey of the kiln site, the author discovered pottery shards identical to this piece. It was likely part of a set of around ten to fifteen pieces.
The author once had the opportunity to drink tea from this tea bowl at a tea ceremony. However, since it was not originally made as a tea bowl, it is somewhat difficult to drink from. Nevertheless, the author was drawn to the object itself, and the difficulty of drinking from it added a unique charm.
This example demonstrates the freedom of tea masters of the past, who could take an object not originally intended as a tea bowl, envision it as such, and use it skillfully as a tea bowl. This is something that contemporary tea masters should learn from.
