Ko-Karatsu Tea Bowl

Ko-Karatsu Tea BowlPrior to visiting Japan I never realized just how imperfect a great tea bowl is. Id seen plenty of photos of famous chawan, but 2 dimensional pictures dont properly capture the character of these three dimensional objects. My visit to Mingeikan was enlightening in this regard the tea bowls on display had sloped rims, dripping glazes, and balanced natures that seemed to highlight gravity. They were stunning. I spent a great deal of time after my visit

An inscription on the stand contains the text “Kōfukuji sentaibutsu 興福寺千体仏”

In addition

celebrating imperfections as part of its beauty

repapered with durable Warlon or washi-fiberglass paper suitable for sheltered

A pair of Japanese metal pill forms

dates to the mid-Edo period

each with finely painted lacquer floral designs

is one of the most widely worshipped and depicted deities in the tradition

softening the cruder angles seen in Korean folk examples into a more naturalistic shape

The vessel was featured in Seattle Art Museum's 1983 show on Mingei

gold coins and a hojunotama (jewel of wish fulfillment)

Though unsigned