Tea Bowl; named ‘Waraya’

Data

Explanation

This is a typical Mino ware tea bowl of the Seto-guro type. It has a semi-cylindrical body with a very broad squarish base and an extremely low foot. The body, tapering slightly in the middle, rises to an everted lip, which is characterized by soft and uneven waves. On the outside, the walls are partly faceted, and on the inside bottom, there is a whirlpool-shaped wheelmark in the tea pool. The bowl, covered with a jet-black glaze which ends just above the foot, is strong in shape and dignified. On the bottom outside the foot ring is an inscription in red lacquer reading “Waraya” written by Kakukakuusai Genso (1678-1730), the sixth generation grand master of Omotesenke. There is another inscription on the back of the lid of the attached wooden box, this one by the eighth master, Sokutakusai (1744-1808), reading “Seto-guro tea bowl, Kakukaku, named Waraya”.