Hissengata Chawan

Description

This is the perfect bowl for the creative matcha drinker since only a few matcha bowl forms can invoke the imagination like the Hissengata shape can. With significant alterations to the lip of the bowl, a sense of curiosity is immediately created within the tea ceremony atmosphere.

This is a handcrafted Shitoro-Yaki matcha bowl made by Rito Aoshima, using iron-rich clay from the same region our matcha is made.

Hissengata (筆洗型) means “Brush-Washing Shape” and refers to the style of the matcha bowl, which is in the shape of a dish used to wash calligraphy brushes. The creative shape lends a sense of movement to the tea while it’s sitting in the bowl, which is helped by the subtle color hidden within the depths of the glaze.

This matcha bowl comes in a kiribako (桐箱) made from paulownia wood. The front is painted with the style of the bowl (Hissengata), the name of the kiln (Ritougama), and the stamp of the artist, Rito Aoshima. Inside, the bowl is wrapped and protected with a turmeric-dyed cloth as is the traditional style, as well as modern bubble wrap for additional protection.

About the Shitoro-Yaki Teaware

Shitoro-Yaki (志戸呂焼) refers to the pottery style of a small region in southwest Shizuoka Prefecture, dating back to the 12th Century. The center of this style is a town formerly known as Kanaya (金谷), which is also the home of the Sugimoto family. Clay from this area is high in ferric oxides, represented by yellowish and reddish hues in the clay and glazes. Pottery in this style often showcases the color and character of this clay, encouraging us to appreciate rustic simplicity and focus on the subtleties that make every piece unique.

Kobori Enshu, a tea master in the Edo Period (17th Century), loved Shitoro-Yaki and certified it as one of the "Enshu Nana Kama" (7 pottery-styles of Enshu).

About the Artist

Rito Aoshima (青嶋利陶) is a 2nd generation potter, whose father started the current studio in which he works. The studio was created to revitalize the Shitoro-Yaki style and preserve its over 900 year history. The kiln was built as a Noborigama (rising kiln), which has multiple levels staggered vertically to achieve an extremely hot firing temperature. Rito Aoshima studied pottery in Seto (a famous location for pottery), before returning to Shizuoka to study in the Shitoro-Yaki style. Later, he has assumed his father's studio and kiln, and continues to make teaware for tea ceremony, as well as other vessels with a focus on elegance.

Please note that each item is exquisitely hand-crafted and unique so the shipped pieces may not exactly match the photo.  

Care Instructions:

• Hand wash only.
• Do not use a harsh scrubber.
• Do not put in the dishwasher or microwave.

SKU:

RITO-CHWN-HISSE