Show Off Your Pots and Cups XII

[Janine]

again, apologies for poor quality of photos... same Kutani ceramic artist as above, Ken Akaji

teachat4.JPG

teachat5.JPG

teachat6.JPG

[Janine]

incense burner

teachat1.JPG

(goes with tea drinking)

[geeber1]

Very nice, Janine! I love the rich colors and the "freeform-ness" of the designs. Did you buy them from someone local to you or on the 'net?

[IPT]

Janine, I really like those pieces. They are fun and quite lovely. Where did you purchase them? I'd like to see more of that artists work.

[Janine]

Hi geeber & IPT - thanks for your comments.

I bought these pieces at Ito En's shop on Madison Ave in NYC. The Kutani artist is contemporary, Ken Akaji - he also has a son, Kei, who is a ceramicist. I was drawn to them the first time I saw them; I love the "red" color in more formal older designs, but these are lovely and I think they draw one "back" to classical design although they are modern and more free form. The pattern in the square dish is a phoenix.

(The incense burner - which I photo'd because someone asked me about it in the background of the other photos - was a special release by Nippon Kodo a few years back.)

[bishopmaple]

Bishopmaple: How many ounces is that??? You can always strain as you pour.
Good job!

Holds approx 1 pint


Sorry it took so long to answer

[Janine]

Today is my first test drive of one of the cups, here:



Yum, the delicate handmade cup makes the tea taste better

[Victoria]

Congrats Janine!

I have a beautiful bowl that I have not posted. It looks very Hagi-ish, but that is not confirmed, only that it is vintage and from Japan. And called
Buddhist Japan Chawan Rakuyaki Tea Bowl:


This bowl is very heavy, but I love it. It has real presence. And is white as snow, with lots of fine crackling going on already. Used bowls are always so fascinating, aren't they? Who held them, who loved them? What tea was consumed?

[Margules]

It looks very Hagi-ish, but that is not confirmed...And called Buddhist Japan Chawan Rakuyaki Tea Bowl

Sounds more like Raku to me.

I have seen a number of nice looking vintage chawans being listed on ebay recently under rather odd descriptions though. I think Raku is usually pretty light weight as well.

[Victoria]

I guess I really just meant it looked Hagi-ish by the thick white glaze, and the pinched style. It is extremely heavy, my heaviest chawan by far. And has that warm/moist feel.

[Seeker]

That is a stunningly beautiful chawan Vic - nice acquisition! Wow!
nice to see more angles.

(only out of my concern for your wellbeing, I wonder - any concerns about lead? especially with vintage japanese raku?).

[Victoria]

Thanks! Nah, I soak it first, and usually with matcha, finish it rather quickly. Considering my number of chawans in rotation, I'm not worried.

[Seeker]

Great!
And what a wonderful chawan to enjoy matcha from.

[Littlepig2]

Buddhist Japan Chawan Rakuyaki Tea Bowl: Wow!
I especially love the foot side picture of it with the consistent and repetitive markings of the potters fingers, like mountain ridges, just above the foot.

[Chip]

Nice teaware additions Janine and Victoria. Thank you for sharing.