Black raku ware
Accessories
Inner box: Paulownia wood, white lacquer, inscription by Motohiro Sōtan
Middle box: Black lacquer
Accompanying document: Inscription by Jūshin-an Sōza
Provenance
Kusumi Sōan—Ebara Chūshichi—Yagura family, Fujita family
Dimensions
Height: 8.5 cm, Mouth diameter: 9.2–9.5 cm, Body diameter: 10.8 cm, Foot diameter: 4.8 cm, Foot height: 0.8 cm, Weight: 345 g
Owner
Osaka, Fujita Museum of Art
The name “Sōdan” is inscribed on the bowl, and the origin of the name is explained in “Rakuyaki Meibutsu Chawan Shū” (Collection of Famous Rakuyaki Tea Bowls) as follows: “It resembles the iris (Sōdan’s favorite flower) but is slightly coarser, hence the name.” This is one of the seven types of outer designs. The presence of many Sōdan-inscribed tea bowls among the excellent Chōjirō tea bowls is值得注意.
The shape is in the style of Daikoku, with a rounded hem and a gentle, Rikyu-preferred design. The overall construction is thick and sturdy, with a slightly curved rim. The interior has a protrusion in the middle of the body, resembling a tea-holding groove, and the tea-holding area is wide and concave.The rim has uneven heights but is natural and unpretentious. The glaze has no luster, characteristic of the “yaki” glaze, and the tea glaze on the interior is particularly striking. The austere flavor is truly profound. The foot is sturdy, and the glaze on the sides adds further charm. The interior of the foot is shaped like a “bar” (
).
