Teabowls

I think your functional potter's view would be shared by the vast majority of true teabowl connoisseurs.

Also I'm not saying that thought and skill do not play a part in what Pat and Kazem have done but much of it is down to luck. There will be other bowls that haven't turn out how they wished but that is why they and others like them do it this way. Not to get dozens of bowls looking all the same but getting the odd one or two that are "lucky accidents" that they like and have worked very hard to achieve.

Why are all the teabowls so big?

NaomiM wrote:Bizen teabowl by Konishi Toko II, daughter of Konishi Toko I. Both famous Bizen potters.

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It is very unusual for a female to take over an important kiln in this way. I believe that her son works there these days. I'll leave you to guess what his artist name is.

From the size of it when compared to "that hand" it is a teabowl (chawan) rather than a yunomi. A more open chawan would be for summer use and this upright type (tsu tsu) would be for use in the winter.

brin mcardle wrote:Are they only teabowls or chawans because the potter calls them so ?

Most of these are, as despite any aesthetic value that they have, they would not be allowed to be used in a real tea ceremony, which is the purpose of an authentic chawan.

That's not to be critical of any of these, as in the West the majority are bought for their decorative value and not for use.

I have you all to blame for my sudden crash course into the world of Tea bowls I was at an auction earlier to bid on some arts and crafts items and got sucked into the studio section of the sale. I had made the mistake of reading far more of this website than is healthy, including this thread. No one seemed to be bidding on the studio pottery and it seemed rude to leave them. So once I have worked out what I have I may post some pictures. But at a rough guess I would say I have between 30-40 tea bowls alongside another 60-70 other bits of good signed studio. (should keep me busy)

Here are 3 by the same artist that I have dragged out of the 1st box. No idea who made them (looks to be stamped C) but they have a great glaze and stand about 9 cm high.






Just did a count though and I appear to have 27 tea cups someplace in the mountain of white paper and bubble wrap.

Just checked they all have something faint poking through the glaze on the same place. Think it is a word starting with CH?