Raku Pottery / Tea Bowl / Samurai Helmet

This is a tea bowl depicting a Samurai helmet on a subdued black base. Raku ware is a tea bowl designed for the tea ceremony. The tea bowl has a wide bottom, called "chasenzuri," which makes it easy to turn a tea whisk and serve tea. Also, the cup itself curves slightly inward at the rim, which prevents tea from dripping out of the bowl when drinking and makes drinking the tea elegantly.

It is formed by hand-twisting or hand-kneading, using only hands and spatulas, and is characterized by slight distortions and thick shapes. The entire shape, which is not perfect from side to side, expresses the "beauty of imperfection". There is also a rating system for matcha bowls, "Ichi-Raku, Ni-Hagi, and San-Karatsu," (means 1st rank, 2nd and 3rd) with Raku ware being the most prestigious matcha bowl.

Width：11.6cm
Depth：11.6cm
Height：8.5cm
Weight：287g

Cray

RAKUNYU

“Developing Traditional Techniques”

We are working hard to produce "painted tea bowls," which are rare in Raku ware, and are challenging the development of unique Raku ware. We are not only preserving tradition, but also developing our techniques without being bound by them to produce products that will please our customers in the modern age.

ARTISAN STORY

Yoshimura Rakunyu is a kiln specializing in Raku ware, which is a unique type of Kiyomizu ware. They create traditional and innovative items every day, ranging from black and red Raku tea bowls, which have been valued in the world of tea ceremony since the time of Sen no Rikyu, to gorgeous painted tea bowls, daily tableware, and indoor tiles called Raku Tile.

The Yoshimura family has been making pottery in Kyoto since the Meiji era (1868-1912), but since Rakunyu, the first generation, the family has made pottery its main business, creating tea ceremony utensils such as matcha bowls and figurines. The name "Rakunyu" has been passed down from generation to generation, and Mr. Yoshimura is the third generation.

ACHIEVEMENTS

・Selected to exhibit at the Kyoto Kiyomizuyaki Paris Exhibition
・Recognized by the City of Kyoto as a "Future Master Craftsman

RAKU WARE

About 440 years ago / 1580s / Azuchi–Momoyama Period (1573–1603)

Raku ware is traditionally traced to the late sixteenth century, when the potter Chojiro created tea bowls responding to the aesthetic of tea master Sen no Rikyu. The vessels were hand-built rather than wheel-thrown, fired at relatively low temperatures and removed individually from the kiln, creating forms intimately connected with the quiet ideals of wabi tea.

In Japan, a Raku bowl is valued as much through touch as sight. The soft contours of black and red Raku are meant to be held in both hands, so weight, lip, texture and warmth become part of the aesthetic experience. The Raku family lineage and many other potters continue the tradition today.

A useful surprise for overseas audiences is that Western “raku firing” is not identical to traditional Japanese Raku. The dramatic post-firing reduction and smoke effects popularized abroad in the twentieth century belong to a different development. Traditional Raku remains fundamentally tied to tea and to a much quieter visual language.

Individual Differences

As each piece is individually handcrafted, slight variations in color, pattern, shape, and texture may occur. These subtle differences are a natural characteristic of handcrafted works, making each piece truly unique. We hope you will enjoy these individual variations as part of the beauty and character of Japanese craftsmanship.

Production Time

If an item is not currently in stock, it may be made to order by the artisan. As each piece is carefully handcrafted, production may take several months depending on the item and the artisan's schedule. We appreciate your patience and understanding.