Tenmoku Show and Tell

[Fuut]

Hi,

I'm not sure if I am crossing any bounds doing this, but figuring we have a Celadon and Hagi and Korean (etc) topic. I suppose having one for tenmoku chawan can't be that wrong. Perhaps it'll one day pass the 1000 replies as well:)

Anyway, I've seen tenmoku chawan of many different types of clay and i own 3 pieces so far. I received one today and its gorgeous though subtle.

From what i know (and what i read several topics down about ancient Chines tenmoku bowl that contained rare minerals in the glaze), tenmoku tea ware is appreciated for a deep glaze with the appearance of stars, or a starry sky or nebulae. Please correct or add information if I'm wrong.

Anyway here today's tenmoku piece!

[Chip]

Great idea ... as long as we keep the topic more or less general ... so anything tenmoku, not just chawan.

[.m.]

Wow! That's a gorgeous bowl. Thanks for sharing.

[blairswhitaker]

Awesome! That's a nice tenmoku bowl you have their. Not sure if you are aware of this but tenmoku refers to a glaze and a shape. Your bowl is an example of both. This would be a great bowl for kinindate.

[blairswhitaker]

Tenmoku shaped bowls are also normally place on a wooden dai. A small wooden stand that elevates them.

[JBaymore]

In addition to the dai, my understanding is that the Tenmoku Ido Chawan forms were "technically" reserved for serving "royalty" with documented lineage. What are your thoughts/knowledge on that aspect Blair-sensei?

best,

.....................john

[blairswhitaker]

Haha, I'm no Sensei. Yes I would say that from what I have learned tenmoku bowls were/are reserved for royalty/kinin. Also it must be a new unused bowl that will be served only to the kinin in a single serving, the dai must be new as well. If it's kininkiyotsugu the retainers are served from non-tenmoku bowls. I have yet to witness any kinin temae being done for "real". I'm not sure how other countries nobility are treated, we have an upcoming event at the Swiss embassy that is rumored to have some western "royalty" in attendance.

[debunix]

Not sure if you are aware of this but tenmoku refers to a glaze and a shape.

So would this bowl be tenmoku glaze & shape? Or does the taper in at the top (not to mention the nuka (?) at the rim) disqualify it?



Most of my other teawares whose description mentions tenmoku are combination gazes (e.g., tenmoku and nuka), where it seems like the tenmoku is used for a smooth black backdrop for something to ripple and drip, like this



Does that mean the latter piece would have been cooled more quickly, so the tenmoku iron crystals don't get large enough to create distinct spots, or does the mix of glazes prevent the iron-spot crystals forming?

[JBaymore]

Also it must be a new unused bowl that will be served only to the kinin in a single serving, the dai must be new as well.

Ah.... but you are sensei in this context. I did not know the above. Thank you.

And a GREAT boon for potters! Hear that TeaChatters....... if you are buying Chawan from any of us TeaWareArtisans....... if you are serving a "special guest"..... you will need a new one every time.

best,

..................john

[blairswhitaker]

The taper is usually part of a tenmoku shape. It doesn't actually have to have tenmoku glaze to be a tenmoku bowl. Their is a lot if oil spot tenmoku and others with no other glaze material. Tenmoku bowls are all based on the original tea bowls that came from China. In fact I actually believe to be a "real" tenmoku bowl it has to be one of the originals from china. A lot of times the rim also has a band of gold around it as well.

[JBaymore]

Hai.... "karamono".

I am lucky enough to have a Chinese Song Dynasty tenmoku bowl. Not a "prize" one for sure...... but a real one. Classic shape... bit of "hares fur" aspect. No gold.

best,

................john

[blairswhitaker]

Debunix that is fantastic piece, heikan no chawan? Where is it from and by whom?

John, also if it is an offering to a kami, deceased royalty, or a Buddha the dai must be made of freshly carved unlacquered wood, as well as the chaki.

[debunix]

I got it from my closest imitation of a Japanese flea market (), the Katsuragi eBay store, where it was listed as "Japanese pottery tea bowl Popular YUTEKI-TENMOKU-CHAWAN By Rokuro Watanabe".

[Fuut]

Great idea ... as long as we keep the topic more or less general ... so anything tenmoku, not just chawan.

I didn't meant to imply it should be, all fine with me:)

Awesome! That's a nice tenmoku bowl you have their. Not sure if you are aware of this but tenmoku refers to a glaze and a shape. Your bowl is an example of both. This would be a great bowl for kinindate.

Thank you for your interest and added information:) I didn't know that specifically.

I like how much interest this brought up:) Everyone show your piece!

Edit:

The taper is usually part of a tenmoku shape. It doesn't actually have to have tenmoku glaze to be a tenmoku bowl. Their is a lot if oil spot tenmoku and others with no other glaze material. Tenmoku bowls are all based on the original tea bowls that came from China. In fact I actually believe to be a "real" tenmoku bowl it has to be one of the originals from china. A lot of times the rim also has a band of gold around it as well.

I thought that originally a metallic (perhaps gold for the richest) rim was added for strength, or after a piece was repaired. Although nowadays its more of an aesthetic feature i guess.. Again correct me if you can:)