Matcha Bowl - Yoshiki Sugiura
Matcha Bowl in Seto-yaki style, made by Yoshiki Sugiura (1915–1982).
The bowl is hand shaped with a dark brown-black and green glaze. Seto-yaki is associated with Godai Saka kilns, which refers to the "Five Great Kilns" of medieval Japan. These kilns were historically recognized as the most important centres of ceramic production during the Heian (794–1185) to Muromachi (1336–1573) periods and are foundational to the development of Japanese pottery traditions.
- Top diameter: 11.5cm
- Height: 7cm
- Weight: 286g
- Packaging: Original wooden box, wrapped in a cotton fukusa (袱紗)
- Condition: Unused, retrieved from long-term storage
Seto-yaki features
Seto-yaki (瀬戸焼) is one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan and a major centre of ceramic production in Aichi Prefecture. It is especially known for its diversity of glazes and forms, owing to its long history and adaptability. While Seto ware includes everything from tea utensils to everyday dishes, its chawan (tea bowls) are particularly prized in tea ceremony contexts.
Seto-yaki is very diverse in the style of glazing, ranging from the white textures of Shino to the greens of Oribe, the jet black of Setoguro and the yellow of Ki-seto. This bowl combines some elements of those palettes into a distinctly elegant bowl.
Profile of Yoshiki Sugiura (1915-1982)
Yoshiki Sugiura was a Japanese potter renowned for his contributions to Seto ware. He studied under the renowned artist and epicure Kitaōji Rosanjin (1883–1959), known for his quote: "A dish is only as good as the vessel that carries it." He also studied under Ōe Bunzō (1904–1979), a ceramic artist and sculptor of the time.
Sugiura received multiple awards, including the Aichi Prefecture Industrial Crafts Governor's Award, Seto City Ceramic Art Exhibition Mayor's Award and exhibited four times at the Nitten (日展), one of Japan's most prestigious and largest-scale national art exhibitions. He was a member of the Japan Traditional Crafts Association and little is known of whether his kiln continued to produce after his death.