RANSAI CHAWAN (handcrafted Matcha Bowl)

(Please note: This is one of a kind and there are never two alike, so that once sold, this will be out of stock. It takes approximately 3 weeks from the time you order this item until the date it is shipped from Japan. In extremely rare cases, it may take up to 4 weeks. If you order this item with other items, they will be shipped together.)

One-of-a-kind piece
diameter: 4.33inch (11cm) height: 2.95inch (7.5cm), standard Matcha bowl size
Sophisticated Kyo Yaki (Kyoto Style)
Made by Kyoshitsu Sasaki at Kirai kiln
Op.2310

RANSAI means indigo blue color. This unique noble blue color is completely original to the artisan, Kyoshitsu Sasaki. While based on Raku-yaki's traditional style, this masterpiece is the result of his constant research and challenge, and is filled with his latest ideas of the moment. The inside, which appears rainbow-colored depending on the angle of the light, is spectacular. The avant-garde use of color, which would have been unthinkable in Sen no Rikyu's time (1522 - 1591), and the interesting form created by casual shaving, give this Matcha bowl the potential to become a tradition 100 years from now.

This Matcha bowl is made by Kyoshitsu Sasaki at Kirai kiln. Kyoshitsu Sasaki is the fourth head of Shouraku kiln. Shouraku kiln, which opened in 1903, is one of the most traditional Raku-yaki kilns in Kyoto. Raku-yaki is the highest grade Matcha bowl used for the tea ceremony in Japan. (For details of Raku-yaki: RAKU YAKI - Avantgarde to Tradition page)

The name of "Kyoshitsu" and "Kirai" are from Daitokuji temple, which was erected in 1325. The temple has had a great influence on Japanese culture and CHANOYU traditional tea ceremony, since the spirit of CHANOYU is based in Zen philosophy. It is also said that Juko Murata or Sen no Rikyu, who is the famous tea master and pioneer of the tea ceremony, maintained close relations with Daitokuji temple.

This Matcha bowl is based on the shape loved by Sen no Rikyu, the founder of the tea ceremony. The traditional TEZUKUNE technique of forming only by hand, without using a potter's wheel, creates a unique tension at the body and mouth. The sides are shaved with a spatula. This type of shaving was a technique that Raku Ryonyu (1756 - 1834) and Raku Keinyu (1817 - 1902) excelled at. They are well-known for their efforts to preserve the Raku-yaki traditions that had preceded them, while introducing new techniques within the framework of those traditions. This shaving process is more difficult than it looks, and only one stroke can produce such a beautiful pattern. This is the point where Kyoshitsu Sasaki's sophisticated technique of expressing light movement while maintaining the dignity of a Matcha bowl can be seen.

One of the features that makes this Matcha bowl so special is the beautiful, cascading blue gradation. This noble coloring, produced by the reduction firing of the cobalt components in the glaze, is a completely original creation by Kyoshitsu Sasaki. This natural blue glaze was not available in Sen no Rikyu's time and has a uniquely modern appeal. The glaze that flows down to harmonize with the Matcha bowl gives a rich and elegant impression, like a beautifully blooming wisteria flower. The elegant spatula pattern is considered to be a perfect match for this glaze flow. It is very difficult to perfectly control the flow of the glaze, and it could not be more perfectly balanced. If Sen no Rikyu saw this Matcha bowl, he would be truly amazed at its beauty and the evolution of Raku-yaki.

The inside, with its transparent glaze, shows a beautiful amber color obtained by the reaction of the iron in the red clay at a high temperature, and depending on the angle of view, a rainbow gradation of colors emerges. One of the features of this Matcha bowl is that it can be enjoyed from different angles from the outside and from the inside. This Matcha bowl is fired only once at a high temperature of 1,200 degrees Celsius. Since it is a one-time opportunity, it is impossible to control the look of the finished product. It has a charm that can only be found in one-of-a-kind pieces.

Raku-yaki has a water-absorbing property. If used regularly over a long period of time, the aesthetic of the surface gradually changes. It is also a feature of using Raku-yaki that the atmosphere becomes more WABI SABI.This Matcha bowl has a completely original blue glaze that is unprecedented in Raku-yaki's history as its greatest attraction. It has an avant-garde style that would have been unthinkable in Sen no Rikyu's time, but that is precisely why it has an irreplaceable appeal as a leading-edge Raku-yaki of today. Even masterpieces that are now called standards must have been avant-garde at the time they were created. Considering that, this item may be a standard or traditional item 100 years from now.(More info: Sen no Rikyu & the ZEN spirit: click here)

Specially packaged in a wooden box.
Lead-free. Made in Japan.