Is this a Chawan?

[JBaymore]

Cha = tea wan = bowl

A bowl to hold tea.

All of the rest is cultural and artistic overlays.

best,

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

PS: There are reasonably accepted categories of shapes for "types" of Chawan. But as I've said in a few places, a Tea Master can chose to ignore any and all "rules"...... and make it work.

[rdl]

Senchamatcha,
"With the rise of the wabi tea ceremony in the late Muromachi period (1336–1573), the Ido chawan, a variety of Korean bowls mainly used for rice in Korea, also became highly prized in Japan. Korean bowls were a favourite of Sen no Rikyu because of their rough simplicity."
(from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chawan)

If you stare at enough photos of Chawan you can tell the difference between matchawan and rice bowl chawan.

maybe it's better not to look too hard.

[Drax]

I couldn't resist. Happy New Year, everybody!

[JBaymore]

I'll take that one.

best,

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

[JBaymore]

Robert just re-posted this older piece of his:

http://www.e-yakimono.net/html/akai1.htm

best,

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

[Senchamatcha]

" It doesn't matter if one collects on the level that Akai is on or is starting with more modest means. What counts is for folks to live with works that have hin; to make them part of their daily scene." I guess my "collection" is more of a modest thing. I can't afford a $60 chawan... But what ever I'm going to buy needs to be useful to me. And to be useful it needs to have a decent Koudai, a smooth interior, and a smooth rim; which of course fall in line with what is needed for Chanoyu any way. I'll own a decent violin, but not a strad. And I am happy with that.
"without use a chawan loses its seimei or life," - like owning a violin but never playing it.

[茶藝-TeaArt08]

Robert just re-posted this older piece of his:

http://www.e-yakimono.net/html/akai1.htm

best,

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

John, thanks for the link!