Matcha Bowl - Ohi Ware
Ohi ware chawan (茶碗 - tea bowl), for the preparation and enjoyment of matcha. With roots in Japan's centuries-old tea ceremony practices, the chawan is designed to enhance both the aesthetic and sensory experience of whisking and drinking matcha. Matcha is therefore both prepared in the bowl and drank from it.
The bowl was made by Iwamura Yoshio (1925-1987), a distinguished Japanese ceramic artist renowned for his contributions to Ohi Ware, a traditional form of pottery from Kanazawa in Ishikawa Prefecture. He studied under Izukura Juro in Kaga and later established the Oyabu Kiln at Yamashiro Onsen. Iwamura held prominent positions such as Director of the Ohi Ware Craft Cooperative.
Iwamura's work is celebrated for its adherence to traditional Ohi Ware techniques while incorporating his unique artistic sensibilities. His pieces often feature the characteristic amber glaze of Ohi Ware, achieved through low-temperature firing between 750–850°C, resulting in a warm, reddish-brown luster . He produced a variety of items, including tea bowls (chawan), mizusashi (water jars), and decorative vessels, many of which are hand-molded and exhibit organic, asymmetrical forms. His creations are known for their tactile quality and subtle elegance, embodying the wabi-sabi aesthetic central to Japanese tea culture.
- Top diameter: 11.5cm
- Height: 8cm
- Weight: 264g
- Packaging: Original wooden box
- Condition: Unused, stored in long term storage. The box shows some discolouration.
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Ohi Ware (Ohi-yaki) is a traditional style of Japanese pottery that originated in the 17th century in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture. It was first created by Ohi Chozaemon under the guidance of the famous tea master Sen no Rikyū’s lineage and the Kaga domain lord Maeda Tsunanori, specifically for use in the tea ceremony. Ohi Chozaemon was trained in the Raku tradition, but with the support of the local daimyo and the influence of tea practitioners, Chozaemon adapted Raku techniques to local materials and aesthetics, founding the Ohi tradition.
While Ohi Ware maintains close ties to the Raku ware tradition, it developed its own distinct identity. It is typically hand-moulded (rather than wheel-thrown) and low-fired, resulting in soft, earthy textures and warm tones.