Mar 16th, '09, 13:34
Posts: 2
Joined: Mar 16th, '09, 12:47
Location: Springville, CA
Contact:
bluestarrgallery
Want to Learn About Ceramic Bowls, Tomobako & Ceremony
Hello, I'm a ceramic artist researching ceramic tea bowls, tea pots, tea ceremonies, and the history behind tea and I just came across this site. I would also like to know more about tomobako and find a source for tomobako to put my tea bowls in or learn how to make them. Learning to make tomobako might take me a lifetime since I'm not a woodworker, especially since I am so engrossed in clay. I look foward to learning from everyone here.
Mar 16th, '09, 14:11
Posts: 2
Joined: Mar 16th, '09, 12:47
Location: Springville, CA
Contact:
bluestarrgallery
Yes, my avatar teapot was made by me. I am starting to make tea bowls and thus my quest to learn about the proper shape and size to make them. Learning about the attributes of tea will help me in this regard.
I am here for the tea too. I used to be a tea drinker years ago and then started in on coffee, now I am switching back to tea. I see I have much to learn in that regard as well.
I am here for the tea too. I used to be a tea drinker years ago and then started in on coffee, now I am switching back to tea. I see I have much to learn in that regard as well.
Mar 16th, '09, 14:17
Posts: 470
Joined: Sep 29th, '08, 08:49
Location: Floating blissfully in a bowl of Matcha
Well, you came to the right place, this forum and it's TeaChatters are awesome! Have fun on your TeaJourney with usbluestarrgallery wrote:Yes, my avatar teapot was made by me. I am starting to make tea bowls and thus my quest to learn about the proper shape and size to make them. Learning about the attributes of tea will help me in this regard.
I am here for the tea too. I used to be a tea drinker years ago and then started in on coffee, now I am switching back to tea. I see I have much to learn in that regard as well.
Skye
Have a FAB TeaDay Everyone!
Mar 16th, '09, 16:01
Posts: 1953
Joined: Apr 6th, '08, 19:02
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Contact:
chamekke
Welcome!
The Japanese company Wabi Arts sells tomobako and has a lot of information (in English yet!) on these boxes. But they're not cheap - to make or to buy!
I vaguely remember being told once that the value of the tomobako should generally be "worth" 1/3 the value again of the teabowl or other item contained inside it. So if you have a $300 chawan, the tomobako should be of higher-quality wood, and finished more beautifully, than the box that would accompany a $100 chawan. For what that's worth.
Here's an interesting article that features tomobako here... might be worth a read.
P.S. I wrote a couple of articles on "what to look for in a chawan" here:
http://teamind.wordpress.com/tag/chawan/
This is written mainly, but not exclusively, with tea-ceremony practitioners in mind. I've tried to distinguish when something is critical to tea ceremony but not to someone simply preparing a bowl of matcha in a casual home environment (e.g. the koudai or foot ring is critical in Chanoyu, but probably not elsewhere).
The Japanese company Wabi Arts sells tomobako and has a lot of information (in English yet!) on these boxes. But they're not cheap - to make or to buy!
I vaguely remember being told once that the value of the tomobako should generally be "worth" 1/3 the value again of the teabowl or other item contained inside it. So if you have a $300 chawan, the tomobako should be of higher-quality wood, and finished more beautifully, than the box that would accompany a $100 chawan. For what that's worth.
Here's an interesting article that features tomobako here... might be worth a read.
P.S. I wrote a couple of articles on "what to look for in a chawan" here:
http://teamind.wordpress.com/tag/chawan/
This is written mainly, but not exclusively, with tea-ceremony practitioners in mind. I've tried to distinguish when something is critical to tea ceremony but not to someone simply preparing a bowl of matcha in a casual home environment (e.g. the koudai or foot ring is critical in Chanoyu, but probably not elsewhere).
