Tea Caddy of the Bunrin (round-shouldered) type; known as ‘Hamuro Bunrin’, O-meibutsu

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Explanation

This is a tea caddy of a type called bunrin from its round apple-like shape. This particular piece, which was handed down in the Hamuro family and therefore named "Hamuro Bunrin", is known as one of the most exquisite tea caddies made in China. The fine-grained clay body of a grayish black color was thinly coated in a dark brown glaze, which according to its thickness changed colors, creating "landscapes" on the surface. The thinly potted tea caddy is light in weight, and shows string cut marks on the base. Later owners of the piece include Lord Tsuchiya Kazunao of Ibaraki and the Sakai family of Fukui.