Height: 8.8 cm, Mouth Diameter: 8.1 cm, Foot Diameter: 6.3 cm
Raku Museum
As indicated by Tan’nyū’s own inscription on the lid of the box—“Red Tea Bowl, based on the design of ‘Asahina,’ made by Raku Tan’nyū”—this piece is a reproduction of the Kise-to tea bowl “Asahina,” which was once owned by Sōtan. It was likely commissioned by the Mitsui Hachirōemon family, who owned the original piece. The rim is curved outward from a flat edge, a single band encircles the body, the base is flat, and it features a footring identical to that of the original.
Except for the foot and the area immediately surrounding it, the bowl is fired in a pale reddish-yellow Raku glaze. The presence of the so-called “retired master’s seal” stamped beside the foot indicates that this work was created after the artist turned fifty-one. On the underside of the lid, Kyukosai has inscribed: “Saburo, Anshoken seal.” It is an outstanding example of a work modeled after an antique.
