Height: 9.9 cm, Mouth Diameter: 9.7 cm, Foot Diameter: 4.4 cm
This tea bowl is one of two hundred red tea bowls created in 1789 (the first year of the Kansei era) to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Chōjirō’s death, under the direction of Takuzai Sōsa of the Omotesenke school; it was a particularly memorable piece for Ryōin as well.
It features a slightly deep form with a rounded waist and an inward-curving rim, giving it a gentle and elegant appearance. The foot is well-defined, and a swirl-shaped “kabuto-kin” (helmet-shaped) decoration is carved into the foot rim.
The subdued glaze finish reveals characteristics typical of Ryōnyū, yet as a tea bowl, it is more modest than those he created after shaving his head and adopting the name Ryōnyū . On the front of the inner box lid is inscribed “Red Tea Bowl, One of Two Hundred, Raku Kichizaemon,” while on the underside of the lid, Chokusai has written “Plum (signature).” On the outer box, Sokuchu Sōsa has written the authentication: “Ryōnyū Red, One of Two Hundred; Box Inscription by Chokusai; Inscription: Plum; Left (signature).”
