Raku tea bowls are shaped by hand rather than being thrown on the potter's wheel and are drawn from the kiln at the height of the firing so that they cool rapidly in the atmosphere outside.
Their purpose is for drinking whipped tea (matcha) in the tea ceremony (chanoyu).
Typically either monochrome red or monochrome black, Raku tea bowls were considered radically avant-garde when they first appeared in the late sixteenth century. They were synonymous with the ideals of the wabi style of tea ceremony pioneered by the renowned tea master Sen Rikyū (1522-91).
The Raku family has lived and worked on the same plot of land in Kyoto since 1586. Jikinyū succeeded to the family headship as Raku Kichizaemon XV in 1981 and assumed the name Jikinyū when he retired in favour of his elder son, who became Raku Kichizaemon XVI in July 2019. He has devoted his career to exploring the possibilities of the traditional tea bowl format in a constant search for new modes of expression.
His tea bowls are characterised by bold sculptural trimming and the creative use of the yakinuki firing method.
The first Raku tea bowl was created by Chōjirō, a tile craftsman, with the guidance of Sen no Rikyū. The prominent tea master was seeking a tea bowl for a style of Japanese tea ceremony emphasizing simplicity known as wabi-cha. The Raku bowl reflected the ideals of the wabi aesthetic, as it was formed by hand with an appreciation for the natural imperfections.
Trying my hand at pottery at the town's art studio. The one on the right is commercial, my 2 attempts are to the left, both with 3D printed lids gifted by a friend.
Venduto all'asta il set da cerimonia del tè in oro di Toyotomi Hideyoshi!
Un servito da tè da 3 milioni di yen!
Il 27 Maggio in Giappone è stato venduto all’asta un inestimabile tesoro che si riteneva scomparso: il set completo da cerimonia del tè in oro quasi massiccio (in lega di 88% d’oro circa con argento) appartenuto a Toyotomi Hideyoshi che si crede sia stato usato anche da Sen No Rikyu.Questo servito era stato creato per essere usato nella sala da tè d’oro.
Set da tè in oro originale
Toyotomi…
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This Takayama Chasen is handcrafted by 25th generation chasen master Yasaburo Tanimura using a technique that has been perfected for over 500 years.
Each black bamboo whisk features a striking bright red thread, and comes in a box with a stamp of authenticity issued by Japan's Traditional Craft Industry Promotion Association.
When you whisk tea with a Takayama Chasen, you are helping to keep the ancient tradition alive and will feel the care and dedication it took to patiently shape the natural bamboo into an artisanal tea utensil.