With its multitude of floral and foliage motifs rendered in vivid, joyful colors, this matcha bowl is a celebration of all four seasons in Japan. A profusion of jewel-toned leaves and blossoms, outlined in gold, adorn the bowl’s exterior and spill over into the interior, making it a beautiful sight to behold from any angle. From winter plum blossoms, to spring irises, to summer bellflowers, to autumn maple leaves, all seasons are represented! The background is finished with a clear crackle glaze which perfectly highlights the vibrantly colored leaves, grasses and flowers. Over the glaze, the artist has added subtle touches of gold applied with a sponge, which catch the light as the bowl is admired. The crackle glaze on the bowl’s interior also creates a great environment for showing off the beauty of well-prepared, whisked Matcha.
While classically a ‘summer bowl’ in shape, this chawan can, of course, be used year round if you love its wonderful shape and glazing. It is lightweight, crafted from a fine-grained clay and feels good in the hand.
Kiyomizu or Kiyo-yaki pottery is produced in and around the city of Kyoto, Japan. Kiyomizu pottery traces its origins to the 5th century. At one time, potters and their kilns dotted the streets around the Kiyomizu-dera Temple on the outskirts of Kyoto. Today many high-quality pottery shops remain in this section of town, located on the streets lining the hill up to the temple, but the potters have moved out of the city to nearly Yamashina where there is more room for their workshops. The style and appearance of Kiyomizu pottery has evolved and changed over many centuries, first adding vivid colors during the Muromachi period (1338-1573), and then adding over-glazing techniques to give an added luster to items post-firing.
NOTE: Each of these matcha bowls features this glaze in the colors shown. Bear in mind that each individual tea bowl will be its own unique expression of this glaze/color palette.