Featuring the distinctive “nami-yu” glaze, which is made from the ashes of the Kyoto forest, this matcha bowl has a natural base color in yellowish cream-white. It depicts the famous illustrated scroll named "Choju Giga" which is a caricature picture scroll depicting anthropomorphic animals and their playfulness, dating from the 12th to 13th centuries. 

Founded in 1868 as a Kiyomizu ware wholesaler in Kyoto, Tosen Kiln uses its own blend of soil and glaze, preserving the methods and quality of the works of Nonomura Ninsei, the renowned potter who is said to have established the art of Kyo ware in the 17th century.

The paintwork is done by individual Japanese-style painters, pursuing their own originality and depth beyond the expectations for a mere decoration. Turning the bowl around clockwise will give you an array of joyous animals. Here we have rabbits and frogs playing instruments. The fox and monkey are displaying a fun dance. The playful design is the painting of the rabbit on the bottom of the bowl, the rabbit has slipped and fell. The hand brushed lines of gold around the top of the bowl, as well as at the bottom, are not straight, which reminds us of the work of a gentle human hand. 

The technique of painting directly on a bisqued bowl requires unique skill as paint is quickly absorbed by the clay surface. The art of underglaze painting uses more restraint colors of blue and brown, giving the piece a more subdued impression. As the paint is absorbed under the glaze, the result is the more lucid and transparent finish of the delicate brush work, as opposed to the more solid pigments of overglaze painting. The finishing touch to the bowl is a lining of gold. Due to its delicate characteristics, gold can only be applied as an overglaze to truly display its beautiful color. 

A matcha bowl chawan with a warm cream white color with hand painted design. You can enjoy the company of playful rabbits, frogs and a fox entertaining your matcha drinking experience.

It comes in a paulownia wood box, making it an ideal gift for matcha lovers.

Tosen Kiln introduces the timeless techniques of Kiyomizu ware through their delicate hand painting and modeling styles. The intricate paintings on the stoneware breathe warmth and beauty into the pieces and tell stories of the diligence needed to create them.

PRODUCT DETAIL

• Dimension: D12cm(4.7) x 8.5cm(3.3in)
• Capacity: 300ml(9.5oz)
• Box Size: 15.5cm(6.1in) x 15.5cm(6.1in) x H12.8cm(5in)
• Material: Stoneware
• Origin: Made in Japan - Kiyomizu Ware
• Brand: Tosen Kiln