Which Chawan would you choose?

[IPT]

I would say 1 or 2. I've been looking at those for some time too. I like their black Raku for $850.00, but that would be almost 6,000rmb, so I don't think that'll ever happen. Nice to dream though.

[iannon]

I would say 1 or 2. I've been looking at those for some time too. I like their black Raku for $850.00, but that would be almost 6,000rmb, so I don't think that'll ever happen. Nice to dream though.

why sure! its Michael Coffee aka shyrabbit
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?li ... d=26433400
ive been eying it for a while..but i dont need another Chawan right now..

[Victoria]

Of the ones you listed, Matcha really pops in a black chawan.
I like #5.

[Chip]

I would say 1 or 2. I've been looking at those for some time too. I like their black Raku for $850.00, but that would be almost 6,000rmb, so I don't think that'll ever happen. Nice to dream though.

why sure! its Michael Coffee aka shyrabbit
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?li ... d=26433400
ive been eying it for a while..but i dont need another Chawan right now..

I thought of ShyRabbit's as well, he has some nice reasonably priced Chawan, all $69.99.

Bonjiri, another TeawareArtisan here on the forum has some nice ones as well, but are a bit pricier, but most are w/in your limit.

BTW thibaulthalpern, I merged your two topics so it is one continuous topic, a natural progression from searching to selection ...
Chip
Immoderate TeaDrinker who happens to Moderate

[Seeker]

I have eyed the Kuro-raku that you showed in #2. Careful tho - I think the one in the main photo isn't the one you get - that one's sold. Another page (linked on their page) shows you the ones available. There's a simplicity and simultaneously a severity about those pieces. Also, as I recall, there is no lead (you have to be careful about lead used in the glaze of some raku).
I like that they show the koudai (the foot) on it.
On some of the others - I really don't like the triangular unglazed pattern around koudai, and I also really don't like white koudai - sometimes imparts a mass produced quality to my eye.

Those are just some of my personal impressions. I urge you to go with what moves you most.

Then, we can hardly wait to see your choice!

Happy choosing!

[IPT]

but i dont need another Chawan right now..

Are you kidding! We all need one more Chawan.

That Chawan by Michael Coffee is brilliant!

[thibaulthalpern]

I thought of ShyRabbit's as well, he has some nice reasonably priced Chawan, all $69.99.

Bonjiri, another TeawareArtisan here on the forum has some nice ones as well, but are a bit pricier, but most are w/in your limit.

BTW thibaulthalpern, I merged your two topics so it is one continuous topic, a natural progression from searching to selection ...
Chip
Immoderate TeaDrinker who happens to Moderate

Cool. I'll check out these two vendors.

Thanks for merging and thanks for the thoughts on which chawan you'd pick. I'd trust my own senses a lot more if I could physically feel and touch those things but the opportunity for that doesn't exist.

I have three chawan right now. A fairly cheap one from o-cha.com. A smaller one I bought locally for some $30. And then a shiragai (sp?) one I bought from hibiki-an for $85. I like them all.

[thibaulthalpern]

I have eyed the Kuro-raku that you showed in #2. Careful tho - I think the one in the main photo isn't the one you get - that one's sold. Another page (linked on their page) shows you the ones available. There's a simplicity and simultaneously a severity about those pieces. Also, as I recall, there is no lead (you have to be careful about lead used in the glaze of some raku).
I like that they show the koudai (the foot) on it.
On some of the others - I really don't like the triangular unglazed pattern around koudai, and I also really don't like white koudai - sometimes imparts a mass produced quality to my eye.

Those are just some of my personal impressions. I urge you to go with what moves you most.

Then, we can hardly wait to see your choice!

Happy choosing!

Hey, thanks for pointing out the black raku I posted isn't the one that is actually being sold. In fact, I wouldn't have noticed the difference had you not pointed it out!

Yes, the lead in some of the glazes does worry me so to have them specifically state there is no lead is encouraging.

As for what moves me the most, they all move me in different ways and those various ways are not necessarily above each other. So...very hard to decide. I will keep looking at the other vendors that Chip and others recommended.

[Seeker]

Hi Thibault,
I feel for you in the choosing process - trying to get the most from a single choice! Good luck!
Alas, I was unable to do such a thing - particularly with online choosing. My first couple of online choices (found myself wanting more) I found to be different when they came finally into hand and touch and in-person sight - not what/how I'd imagined. I found that I experienced a learning curve. And in the process, fell more and more in love with chawan, and have become a little bit of a collector sort of.
I wish for you a kind of ease and holding-loosely of your process - both in the choosing and in the actual receiving -- especially with any high hopes you might have for making a best choice. May you be at peace with whatever arrives at your door.
I'll eagerly await with hopes that you'll share a photo of your chosen vessel replete with frothy emerald elixir!
Cheers!

[thibaulthalpern]

Hi Thibault,
I feel for you in the choosing process - trying to get the most from a single choice! Good luck!
[...]
I wish for you a kind of ease and holding-loosely of your process - both in the choosing and in the actual receiving -- especially with any high hopes you might have for making a best choice. May you be at peace with whatever arrives at your door.
I'll eagerly await with hopes that you'll share a photo of your chosen vessel replete with frothy emerald elixir!
Cheers!

Thanks! That's absolutely lovely, what you say I will try to practice remember what you said.

[Chip]

Forget what Seeker says, he is just a therapist.

If you do NOT make the right choice, you will regret it for the rest of your TeaLife ... unless you correct the situation by buying moar.

Pull the trigger, the suspense is killin' us.

[Seeker]

your welcome!
Hey - just did a little online reconnaissance - the "kuro raku" you showed in #2 on Hibiki-an is not the one I had seen! The "same" (really similar) bowl I saw is on Artistic Nippon - and for only $94. That's the site where you actually get to see which bowl you get to choose. On Hibiki-an, I couldn't discern that?
Just thought I'd share that info.
Best,
seeker

[thibaulthalpern]

your welcome!
Hey - just did a little online reconnaissance - the "kuro raku" you showed in #2 on Hibiki-an is not the one I had seen! The "same" (really similar) bowl I saw is on Artistic Nippon - and for only $94. That's the site where you actually get to see which bowl you get to choose. On Hibiki-an, I couldn't discern that?
Just thought I'd share that info.
Best,
seeker

Wow wow! I think what you see on Artistic Nippon is really the "same" thing!!! Looks like from the same Kiln, "same" pattern. Hmm...! Thanks for sharing.

To others,
I'll wait a few days before choosing, if I do at all!

[iannon]

The "same" (really similar) bowl I saw is on Artistic Nippon - and for only $94. That's the site where you actually get to see which bowl you get to choose. On Hibiki-an, I couldn't discern that?

you mightwant to shoot Toru a msg anyway as not ALL the pics are of the actual item there either. My Kashun wasnt..but I did ask for pics before i ordered so i knew exactly what I was getting

[Seeker]

iannon - in this case the pics are there - I checked. He numbers the bowls, there's a pic of each, and he indicates which ones are already sold (#'s 1 & 4 are sold/gone).
I have noticed that sometimes he just posts a note saying the one in the pic is probably not the one you'll get. But then other times, he posts pics of each, numbering them (as with the seigan cucumber guinomis and also with this chawan).
Nice attn to detail - thanks!
So sorry to hear you might have gotten disappointed with your kashun.

Oh, and thibault - if you send a query to Toru-san asking him for it, he might send you pics of the bowl you're interested in from different angles and lighting.

cheers.