Kakewake Chawan

Description

A mix between rustic simplicity and elegant beauty, this Kakewake style tea bowl is a fitting representation of the centuries old Kirei-Sabi tea ceremony aesthetic. On one side a subdued green glaze, on the other a splatter of dark and light brown, and piercing between them a shock of golden yellow. This distinctive splitting of glaze colors is known as Kakewake (掛分け) and is well practiced throughout virtually all branches of Japanese pottery. Although the colors are rustic, the clear separation and smooth form of the bowl creates a sense of control and elegance.

This matcha bowl is handcrafted by Rito Aoshima in the Shitoro-Yaki style, using iron-rich clay from the same region that the Sugimoto family makes tea.

This chawan comes in a kiribako (桐箱) made from paulownia wood. 

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-KAKE