Raku Pottery / Tea Bowl / Red Clay 1

Product Description : Why is it so EXPENSIVE?

Product Story

General Product Information

It is a red Raku tea bowl with a vivid impression, painted with clay that develops a red color on the clay that has been handed down from craftsman’s family. The black mottled pattern is a kiln alteration caused by firing over a charcoal fire. 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.

 Product History

When did these crafts start to craft?：500 years ago / 1500AD / Azuchimomoyama period in Japan

Raku ware is a type of pottery that uses the naturally occurring uneven shapes created by "twist molding" and a firing method called "drawer firing," which is rare in the world.

Raku ware was started in the Momoyama period (16th century) by Chojiro, the first generation of the Raku family. The Raku ware technique has its roots in the three-color ceramics of the Ming Dynasty in China. During the Momoyama period, pottery using such colorful three-color glazes began to be produced mainly in Kyoto, and Chojiro is thought to have been one of the potters who possessed this technique. Although no works have survived, it can be said that this man was the one who introduced the three-color glaze technique from China.

“The most prestigious tea bowl”
In fact, there is a "rank" of matcha bowls. The most prestigious matcha bowls are Raku, Hagi, and Karatsu, with Raku ware being the most prestigious.

Craftsman Story

Craftsman Profile

Yoshimura Rakunyu
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.

 

Craftsman Passion

“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.

Achievement

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

Your Contribution to Craftsman

Customer Voice

Due to the market structure (link for full articles are attached bottom), craftsman have not known who the customer is and how customer reacts to their work. We made a “Message to Craftsman” box at purchase page. We will deliver all message to every craftsman. Our review will be also shared to craftsman so please leave your comment and evaluation on review section!

Income for Craftsman: Craftsman get only less than 10% of selling price?

As written above, craftsman have not controlled last phase of sales channel that resulting in selling price is set by third-party without craftsman’s recognition. There are some cases that only less than 10% of selling price is given to craftsman. We promise with our customer / craftsman that we offer the fair trade with craftsmen in our contract!

We made an article about above problem and our challenge. Please have a read from below link.
Current state of the Crafts Market / Benefits brought by Suigenkyo

Measurement

Width：11cm
Depth：11cm
Height：7.5cm
Weight：268g

 

Material & Caution

Materials

Cray

 

Caution

Individual Difference

Each piece is handmade, so there are individual differences even in the same series. We hope that you will understand the change by handmade.

Delivery Date

Please note that it will take about three Months for delivery if we do not have the item in stock.