The Way of Tea: Chawans and Ceremony Utensils

This collection celebrates the spirit of the Japanese tea ceremony through a curated selection of Chawan (tea bowls) and traditional utensils used in Chanoyu.

At its center are the Chawans—vessels made not just for function, but for quiet contemplation. From rustic Raku to refined Shino and Hagi forms, each bowl is shaped by the hand of the maker and guided by the philosophy of wabi-sabi: imperfect, intimate, and deeply human. Their glazes, textures, and proportions are meant to be held, observed, and experienced.

Complementing the tea bowls are essential ceremonial implements: water jars (mizusashi), bamboo ladles (hishaku), and lacquered caddies—each one playing a vital role in the silent choreography of the tea ritual. Together, these objects offer a glimpse into a world where beauty is found in stillness, gesture, and presence.

Momoyama Period Chawan (1573-1615)

Object Number: #JCB438
Title: Clog-Shaped Tea Bowl (Chawan) with Plum Blossoms and Geometric Patterns.
Place of Origin: Japan
Artist: Unknown
Period: Momoyama period (1573–1615)
Date: Early 17th century
Materials: Ceramics
Style or Ware: Stoneware with iron-black glaze (Mino ware, black Oribe type)
Dimensions: D: 15.2cm D: 12.0cm H: 8.0cm
Department: Japanese
Art Collection: Japanese Ceramics.
Note:

Momoyama to Edo Period Chawan (1603-1868)

Object Number: #JCB5
Title: Edo Period Tea Bowl
Place of Origin: Japan
Artist: Unknown
Period: Edo Period (1603-1868)
Date: 17 Century.
Materials: Ceramics
Style or Ware: Mino ware, Shino type
Dimensions: D: 13.3 x 11.4cm. H: 9.0cm.
Department: Japanese
Art Collection: Japanese Ceramics.
Note: With the antique wooden tomobako storage box and Shifuku.

Edo Period Chawan (1603-1868)

Object Number: #JCB111
Title: Edo Period Tea Bowl
Place of Origin: Japan
Artist: Unknown
Period: Edo Period (1603-1868)
Date: 17th-18th Century
Materials: Ceramics
Style or Ware: Hagi ware
Dimensions: D: 13.3cm. H: 9.0cm.
Department: Japanese
Art Collection: Japanese Ceramics.
Note: With the antique wooden tomobako storage box and Shifuku.

Joseon Dynasty Irabo Tea Bowl

Object Number: #KCB435
Title: Joseon Dynasty Irabo Bowl
Place of Origin: Korea
Artist: Unknown
Period: Joseon Dynasty
Date: 17-18 Century Materials: Stoneware
Dimensions: D: 14.0x14.5cm H 6.4cm
Department: Korean
Art Collection: Ceramics Arts
Note: With the wooden tomobako storage box.

Gohon Tachizuru Crane Standing Chawan

Object Number: #JCB437
Title: Tea bowl with standing crane design (Gohon Tachizuru)
Place of Origin: Japan
Artist: Unknown
Period: Edo Period (1603-1868)
Date:
Materials: Ceramics
Style or Ware:
Dimensions: D: 9.2cm. H: 9.4cm.
Department: Japanese
Art Collection: Japanese Ceramics.
Note: With the antique wooden tomobako storage box.

Buncheong Bowl with White Slip-brushed Design Joseon Dynasty

Object Number: KCB591
Title: Korean Buncheong Slip-Brushed Bowl
Culture: Korea
Period: Joseon Dynasty
Date: 15th–16th Century
Material: Stoneware with white slip and transparent glaze
Dimensions: D: 16.4 - 14.3cm H: 7.5cm
Kiln: Provincial Buncheong ware kiln (likely Gyeongsang or Chungcheong region)
Collection: Korean Ceramics
Description:
A finely weathered buncheong bowl formed from coarse, iron-rich Korean clay and decorated with broad, energetic strokes of white slip. The interior displays natural crackle, firing pinholes, and an expressive circular brush pattern, while the exterior retains traces of slip in irregular horizontal sweeps typical of early Joseon folk kilns. The slightly ovalized rim and low, trimmed foot reflect the spontaneous, utilitarian character of daily ware from this period. A textbook example of authentic early buncheong aesthetics.

Tenmoku Tea Bowl with Hare’s-Fur Glaze

Object Number: #CCB535
Title: Tenmoku Tea Bowl with Hare’s-Fur Glaze
Period: Song dynasty (960–1279)
Date: 12th century
Culture: China
Medium: Stoneware with copper-oxide glaze (Jian ware)
Dimensions: D: 12.5cm. 4.92Inches H: 8.0cm

Raku Chawan Edo Period

Object Number: #JCB224
Title: Edo Period Tea Bowl
Place of Origin: Japan
Artist: Atributed to the 9th-Generation Raku master Ryonyu (1756-1834)
Period: Edo Period (1603-1868)
Date: 18 Century.
Materials: Ceramics
Style or Ware: Raku ware.
Dimensions: Diam.: 9.5cm. Height: 8.0cm.
Department: Japanese
Art Collection: Japanese Ceramics.
Note: With the Original signed antique wooden tomobako storage box. With and old gold Kintsugi.

Edo Period Oribe Chawan (1603-1868)

Object Number: #JCB533
Title: Edo Period Tea Bowl
Place of Origin: Japan
Artist: Unknown
Period: Edo Period (1603-1868)
Date: 17th Century
Materials: Ceramics
Style or Ware: Mino Ware Narumi - Oribe
Dimensions: D: 15.6cm. x 12cm. 6.14Inches x 4.62Inches H: 8.0cm. 3.14Inches
Department: Japanese
Art Collection: Japanese Ceramics.
Note: With the antique wooden tomobako storage box and Shifuku.

Edo Period Seto Chawan (1603-1868)

Object Number: #JCB235
Title: Edo Period Tea Bowl
Place of Origin: Japan
Artist: Unknown Period: Edo Period (1603-1868)
Date: 17th-18th Century
Materials: Ceramics
Style or Ware: Ki Seto ware.
Dimensions: D: 12.7cm H: 10.5cm
Department: Japanese
Art Collection: Japanese Ceramics.
Note: With the antique wooden tomobako storage box.

Edo Period Odo Yaki Chawan

Object Number: #JCB127
Title: Edo Period Odo Yaki Chawan
Place of Origin: Japan
Artist: Unknown
Period: Edo Period
Date: 17th Century
Materials: Ceramics Style or
Ware: Odo Yaki
Dimensions: D: 12.0cm 4.72inch H: 7.5cm. 2.95inch Department: Japanese
Art Collection: Japanese Ceramics.
Note: With the antique Signed wooden tomobako storage box

Edo period Hagi Bowl (1603-1868)

Object Number: #
Title: Edo period Hagi yaki, Ido high-footed Chawan Place of Origin: Japan
Artist: Unknown
Period: Edo Period (1603-1868)
Date: 18th - 19th Century
Materials: Ceramics
Style or Ware: Hagi Yaki
Dimensions: H: 8.1cm D: 12.5cm
Department: Japanese
Art Collection: Japanese Ceramics.
Note: With the antique wooden box Tomobako. The Tomobako inscription identifies the piece as Hagi Kōdai Chawan. Clay, glaze, and age characteristics are consistent with authentic late Edo–Meiji Hagi ware. A refined Hagi-yaki tea bowl distinguished by its tall, well-balanced kōdai and soft milky glaze. The surface displays deep natural crazing and scattered iron freckles, hallmarks of traditional Hagi ware influenced by Korean Joseon aesthetics. Interior patination indicates long historical use in the tea ceremony. The rough, iron-rich foot and sandy Hagi clay support an attribution to late Edo to early Meiji production.

Heian-Kamakura period, Yama Bowl

Object Number: #JCB483
Title: Heian-Kamakura period, 9th-13th century Yama-Chawan.
A Sanage Kiln "Mountain tea bowl".
Place of Origin: Japan
Artist: Unknown
Period: Heian-Kamakura period, 9th-13th century
Date: Heian-Kamakura Period, 9th-13th century Materials: Ceramics
Style or Ware: Seto ware.
A Sanage Kiln "Mountain tea bowl"
Dimensions: D: 16.8x15.8cm H: 5.6x4.6cm
Department: Japanese
Art Collection: Japanese Ceramics.
Note: With the wooden tomobako storage box. A Sanage Kiln "Mountain tea bowl", With the natural glaze.

Edo Period Oribe Tea Bowl

Object Number: #JCB225
Title: Edo Period Tea Bowl
Place of Origin: Japan
Artist: Unknown
Period: Edo Period (1603-1868)
Date: 17th-18th Century
Materials: Ceramics
Style or Ware: Narumi - Oribe
Dimensions: D: 14cm. x 11cm. H: 6.5cm.
Department: Japanese
Art Collection: Japanese Ceramics.
Note: With the antique wooden tomobako storage box. Slightly distorted shoe shaped (kutsugata) tea bowl.

Edo Period Mishima Karatsu Chawan (1603-1868)

Object Number: #JCB33
Title: Edo Period Mishima Karatsu Tea Bowl
Place of Origin: Japan
Artist: Unknown
eriod: Edo Period (1603-1868)
Date: 18 Century.
Materials: Ceramics
Style or Ware: Mishima Karatsu ware.
Dimensions: D: 14x12cm. H: 8.0cm.
Department: Japanese
Art Collection: Japanese Ceramics.
Note: With the antique wooden tomobako storage box and Shifuku.

Joseon Dynasty Unkaku Tea Bowl (1392 – 1897)

Object Number: #KCB600
Title: Joseon Dynasty Unkaku Tea Bowl (1392 – 1897) Place of Origin: Korea
Artist: Unknown
Period: Goryeo to Joseon Dynasty
Date:
Materials: Ceramics
Style or Ware: Stoneware with white inlay under celadon glaze
Dimensions: H: 7.5cm D: 13.0cm
Department: Korean
Art Collection: Korean Ceramics.
Note: With an antique Gold Kinstugi. The term Unkaku is Japanese, meaning "Cloud and Crane". This motif often symbolizes longevity, elegance, and transcendence in East Asian art. The crane (especially paired with clouds) is a classic symbol in Korean and Japanese culture, often associated with peace and spiritual grace.

Joseon Dynasty Unkaku Tea Bowl (1392 – 1897)

Object Number: #KCB576
Title: Joseon Dynasty Unkaku Tea Bowl (1392 – 1897) Place of Origin: Korea
Artist: Unknown
Period: Goryeo to Joseon Dynasty
Date:
Materials: Ceramics
Style or Ware: Stoneware with white inlay under celadon glaze
Dimensions: D: 12.0cm H: 8.0 cm
Department: Korean
Art Collection: Korean Ceramics.
Note: With an antique Gold Kinstugi. The term Unkaku is Japanese, meaning "Cloud and Crane". This motif often symbolizes longevity, elegance, and transcendence in East Asian art. The crane (especially paired with clouds) is a classic symbol in Korean and Japanese culture, often associated with peace and spiritual grace.

Seto Kawakujirate Tea Bowl Chawan

Object Number: #JCB165
Title: Seto Karatsu Kawakujirate Chawan
Place of Origin: Japan
Artist: Unknown
Period: Edo Period Date: 19th Century
Materials: Ceramics
Style or Ware: Seto Karatsu
Dimensions: H: 6.0 cm. 2.36inch D: 15.7cm 6.18inch Department: Japanese
Art Collection: Japanese Ceramics.
Note: With the Original Signed wooden tomobako storage box. The technique of baking clay of low iron content coated with a feldspar glaze is divided into that of Kawakujirate (lit. Whale skin's color) and Seto Karatsu.