A Warm and Energetic Ki-Seto Chawan

[sabi]

Good evening NMB,

 

In my experience, finding a good tea bowl of this style is very difficult, let alone at a low price.  Ki-Seto is notoriously tricky to pull off, with many efforts failing to capture the color and texture that makes the style so coveted. 

 

This example by Kato Yoshiemon is a wonderful achievement - it's glaze has a beautiful warm time, satin finish and crinkly texture that is textbook.  This is known as aburage-de for its resemblance to fried tofu, and the bowl here is indeed delicious.  Finding unadorned wares of this style is very rare as well, with most re-hashing the popular incised designs from the Momoyama period.  This chawan lets the form and glaze do the talking with only simple, yet confident, sweeping lines on the body accenting the piece.  The clay flavor is sublime and reflects a long life of caring use - this is also supported by the inscription on the inside of the lid, which is by the 14th head of the Omotesenke school of tea, Jimyosai.  The yellow ribbon in the box is a trademark of this school as well.  

 

Measures 12.8 x 8.2cm and in perfect condition with no flaws.  $275 shipped to the USA, international buyers please contact me for a quote.  Payment to be made by PayPal F&F.

 

Please let me know if you have any questions or need additional pics.  Thanks for looking!

 

 

[Katsujinken]

Evan, how old is this piece?

[sabi]

31 minutes ago, Katsujinken said:

Evan, how old is this piece?

 

Hey there Michael, hard to say for sure - he took his working name in the early 70's, given the apparent age of the box and the patina of the piece in general I'd estimate 1980's.  

 

Impossible to say for sure, but the quality suggests it was made at, or very near his prime as an artist.  

 

Thanks!

[sabi]

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