Chawan: Hira-gata (summer tea bowl), Kyo-yaki studio ware)

Form: Hira-gata (wide summer tea bowl)
Origin: Kyoto tradition (Kyo-yaki studio ware)
Period: Late Showa era, c. 1970–1990

Description

This elegant Japanese tea bowl reflects the refined aesthetic of Kyoto tea ceramics. The bowl is finished in a soft ivory glaze that has developed a fine network of kannyū (crackle) throughout the surface during firing.

The wide-open form identifies the bowl as a hira-gata chawan, a style traditionally used during the warmer months of the tea ceremony. The open profile creates a calm visual presence in the tearoom while allowing tea to cool slightly faster.

The glaze gathers gently toward the center of the bowl, creating a subtle olive tone where the glaze pools. The foot is carefully trimmed and bears an impressed square studio seal.

While the exact studio is unidentified, the bowl is consistent with late-20th-century Kyoto (Kyo-yaki) tea ceramics produced for tea practitioners.

Signature

Impressed square studio seal, likely reading Shōtō (尚陶).

This type of impressed seal is typical of Kyoto studio pottery used for tea ceremony utensils.

Small Detail

The bowl measures 15.3 cm in diameter, making it slightly larger than many hira-chawan.
This size makes the bowl particularly comfortable for koicha preparation or practice bowls.

Dimensions

Diameter: 15.3 cm
Height: 6.66 cm
Foot Diameter: 5.24 cm
Weight: 278 g (9.8 oz)

Condition

Very good vintage condition.
No cracks or chips observed.

Suggested Collector Line

The bowl bears an impressed square studio seal typical of Kyoto workshop pottery produced for tea practitioners during the late twentieth century.