{"product_id":"vintage-japanese-turquoise-ice-crack-celadon-chawan-relief-carved-figures-hand-formed-matcha-tea-bowl-wabi-sabi","title":"Vintage Japanese Turquoise Ice-Crack Celadon Chawan, Relief Carved Figures, Hand-Formed Matcha Tea Bowl, Wabi-Sabi","description":"\u003cp\u003eA BOWL THE COLOR OF A FROZEN POOL\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe glaze is a thick, glassy turquoise, cracked into layer upon layer of fine lines like ice on a pond or the shell of a tortoise. The bowl was shaped by hand, with soft facets and an uneven lip. On one side a relief-carved roundel holds two rounded seated figures, as if sharing a quiet moment over tea. On the other side a smaller circular motif is pressed into the clay. This is a vintage Japanese chawan (tea bowl) in a turquoise crackle celadon style, made for matcha and for the quiet taste of wabi-sabi.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eQUICK FACTS\u003cbr\u003e• Type: Japanese tea bowl (茶碗, chawan) for matcha\u003cbr\u003e• Glaze: thick turquoise celadon-style glaze with dense layered crackle (氷裂貫入, hyōretsu kannyū)\u003cbr\u003e• Decoration: relief-carved roundel of two seated figures with a spiral outline; a second circular motif on the opposite side\u003cbr\u003e• Form: hand-formed, faceted and slightly asymmetrical with an uneven lip\u003cbr\u003e• Body: fine cream-white clay on the foot, with a pale yellow edge\u003cbr\u003e• Foot: small bare ring with a recess, impressed mark \"95\" and small characters (not yet read)\u003cbr\u003e• Maker \/ kiln: [unidentified]\u003cbr\u003e• Age: vintage, [estimate, only if supported]\u003cbr\u003e• Condition: [describe rim, glaze, hairlines, white marks near the foot]\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWHAT IS ICE-CRACK CELADON?\u003cbr\u003eIce-crack celadon (氷裂貫入青磁, hyōretsu kannyū seiji) is a glaze applied thickly so that its cracks form in several layers. It is also called tortoiseshell crack celadon (亀甲貫入青磁) or snowflake celadon. Unlike an ordinary crazed glaze, the dense, layered network creates depth and a frozen look. The turquoise shade has long been popular in Japanese celadon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTHE KYOTO CONNECTION\u003cbr\u003eKyoto ceramics (Kyo-yaki and Kiyomizu-yaki) are famous for their variety. Kyoto has no single local clay, so potters have long blended clays and stone from other regions, and Kyo-yaki uses overglaze painting, blue-and-white decoration, gold, and Chinese sancai-inspired color glazes. Turquoise crackle celadon bowls are made in the Kiyomizu-yaki tradition. We describe this bowl by its glaze and have not confirmed the kiln.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTHE CARVED ROUNDEL\u003cbr\u003eThe roundel shows two rounded, seated figures. Rounded seated figures, such as Hotei (布袋), the cheerful monk, appear on Japanese glazed ceramics, including Kyoto-glazed dishes of the Edo period. We leave the meaning of this carving open to the viewer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTHE WABI-SABI DETAILS\u003cbr\u003eFacets, an uneven lip, glaze that pools in the grooves and a web of crackle: this is a bowl shaped by hand and finished by fire, and no two are alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDISPLAY AND USE\u003cbr\u003eSold as a collectible display piece. The glaze composition has not been tested, so we do not recommend using it for food or drink unless you have it tested. Fine crackle can take on tea stains over time. Avoid soaking, dishwashers and abrasive pads.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCONDITION AND AUTHENTICITY\u003cbr\u003eSold as a vintage Japanese turquoise crackle-glazed chawan, [maker unconfirmed]. The impressed mark on the foot has not been identified. Crackle, glaze pooling and surface variation are part of its character. Please review all photos and ask any question before buying.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Chikoyaki","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67888378675279,"sku":"CKY-CER-[###]12","price":120.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0667\/6588\/1423\/files\/IMG_9547_result.jpg?v=1793097270","url":"https:\/\/chikoyaki.com\/products\/vintage-japanese-turquoise-ice-crack-celadon-chawan-relief-carved-figures-hand-formed-matcha-tea-bowl-wabi-sabi","provider":"Chikoyaki","version":"1.0","type":"link"}