Futa Oki: E-Karatsu Style with Iron Brush Decoration

Futa-oki – E-Karatsu Style with Iron Brush Decoration

Origin: Karatsu ware, Japan

This expressive futa-oki (lid rest) exemplifies the bold yet restrained aesthetic of E-Karatsu ware, a substyle of Karatsu pottery known for its hand-painted iron oxide motifs. The cylindrical form flares gently at the rim and base, providing stability and elegance suitable for both formal and informal tea gatherings.

Crafted from a buff-colored clay and coated with a translucent, warm-toned glaze, the surface is animated by swift, calligraphic brushwork—likely inspired by grasses or reeds—rendered in dark iron pigment. The energetic strokes and natural clay body reveal the potter’s spontaneous hand, celebrating the wabi-sabi ethos of the Tea Ceremony.

Unlike the soft, crackled surface of Hagi ware, this piece reflects the more earthy, functional tradition of Karatsu kilns. It is a fine example of utility balanced with rustic beauty—ideal for resting a kettle lid or hishaku during temae.

This futa-oki would make a valuable addition to any practitioner’s collection of tea utensils, especially for those who appreciate the regional character and historical lineage of Karatsu-yaki.