Korean Totoya Chawan

This Korean Totoya chawan (matcha bowl) has all the hallmarks of this classic style: a wide open shape, fine rokurome that spiral up the thin walls, a greyish-blue tint over the warm clay, and pinkish gohon spots. The bowl is coated in a simple transparent glaze, so the warm tones, hue gradients, and spots all come from the clay itself as it is rapidly heated in the kiln. The small red spots form as tiny bubbles from within the clay rise to the surface.

Totoya chawan (斗々屋茶碗) is one of the most favoured styles of Korean tea bowls. This style as a few alternate spellings (魚屋・渡唐屋 ) all of which reference the story of the first Totoya chawan, which is that Sen-no-Rikyū saw it on a shelf at a fishmonger's shop. While totoya bowls can vary in appearance they generally have a these traits in common:

• Fine, yet pronounced Rokurome (轆轤目 - potters' wheel marks): a subtle spiral shape left by the potter's fingers as they shaped the piece on the wheel
• A wide, open shape
• A reddish clay base with a grey-blue tint to the translucent glaze.
• Thin walls that undulate as they spread out
• Gohon spots

This chawan was made by Karaku Kiln and comes with a paulownia wood box (kiribako - 桐箱) signed by the artist.