Height: 8.7 cm; Mouth diameter: 10.7–11.5 cm; Foot diameter: 5.5 cm
The lid of the black lacquered inner box bears the characters “Aoyama” in gold powder, but black lacquered boxes are rare for so-called Raku tea bowls, such as those by Chojiro or Doiru. Since this bowl was owned by Aoyama Shogun, a senior retainer of the Kaga Maeda family, perhaps this box was specially commissioned for it. Additionally, a deed of transfer from Aoyama Shōkan to Kameda Iemon, a Kanazawa herbal medicine merchant (also known as Ryūseken), is included. The text reads: “Utensils: Nonkō tea bowl. I earnestly request that this be transferred to me as a confidential matter. Early winter of the year of the Rooster, within Aoyama Shōkan’s residence. Sakuemon and Fujisawa Uemon’s seals. To Ryūseken.” It was subsequently passed down from the Kameda family to Yoshikura Sōza and Yokoyama Takatoshi. Furthermore, the seven types of black tea bowls found in Kaga—namely “Aoyama,” “Zenpukuji,” “Kikyo,” “Kaguyama,” “Konohana,” “Kasumi,” and “Imaeda”—were prized as the “Nonkō Kaga Seven Varieties.”
This is a thin-walled tea bowl with a clam-shell rim, a deep body, and a high waist. The foot is somewhat large, and the rounded indentation on the inner side of the foot is a distinctive touch unique to Doi. The “Raku” mark stamped in the center of the foot is covered with black glaze on top, but because the glaze is thin, the mark itself is clear and vivid.
Although not entirely clear, the flat base retains at least three traces of the mold. A glossy, jet-black glaze covers both the interior and exterior, but an interesting yellow discoloration on the front creates a decorative effect.
