Large sake cup, tea cup, Tenryuji, Tenmoku shape
- Arita ware sake cup, tea cup
- Work by Shinemon kiln
- Kiln-change, green
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Size: φ7.5 × H4.5(cm)
- Material: Amakusa porcelain clay
- Condition: New
About this piece
The green celadon porcelain exported from the Longquan kilns in Zhejiang Province, China to the Muromachi government in Japan is called Tenryuji celadon. Among them, those with blackish brown spots (iron spots) are called "flying celadon" and a vase of flying celadon is designated as Japanese national treasure. The Shinemon kiln has arranged this celadon in a unique way. In pursuit of an even deeper green color, they dripped their specialty cinnabar glaze to create a design that evokes the image of flower petals blooming in a meadow.
The shape "Tenmoku" comes from a vessel made in China. During the Kamakura period (1185-1333), Japanese monks who had studied at the temple of Tianmu Mountain in Zhejiang Province, China, brought back to Japan tea bowls called Tenmoku tea bowls, which were highly prized. This type of tea bowls had been produced in China in large numbers and at one time reigned on the throne of Chinese tea bowls, and is characterized by a low, small ring on the bottom, a mortar-shaped body and a neck on the mouth rim. The Tenmoku-shaped tea bowl by Shinemon, which is a smaller version of this bowl, is very popular.
Handling precautions
*The colors, patterns, and shapes of each item may vary slightly due to the handmade process. The photo is an example. Please enjoy the unique beauty of each piece.
*Porcelain products may crack due to sudden temperature changes. Please be careful not to heat or cool the product too quickly.
*Color paintings and gilding may lose their color if washed too hard. It is recommended to wash with a soft sponge.
*Some gilded items may turn black when heated in a microwave oven, so please avoid using them in a microwave oven.
Japanese traditional craft: Imari/Arita ware
After Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s military expeditions into the Korean peninsula at the end 16th century, many Korean potters were brought to Japan. One Korean potter discovered high-quality kaolin at Mt. Izumiyama in the Arita region (now Saga Prefecture) and succeeded in making Japan’s first porcelain. This was the birth of Arita ware.
Arita ware made great strides as an industry with the development of overglaze enameling techniques that added colors like red, gold, green, blue, and purple. It reached its peak in the late 17th century, with the wares being extensively exported to Europe and the Middle East. Back then, since the porcelain was being shipped out from the port town of Imari, they came to be known as Imari ware.
Exports later declined, but production for the domestic market continued, especially for tableware and ornamental items. Today, Arita remains one of the most prominent porcelain-producing regions in Japan. Arita ware is known for its milky white base and colorful overglaze decorations, and its production is based on a division of labor, with each step in the process being performed by highly-skilled artisans.
Imari/Arita ware was designated as a Traditional Craft of Japan in 1977
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