Vintage Japanese Kensui Waste-Water Bowl, 1966-1989 (Late Showa) | SKU: 26M-850-3

Vintage Japanese Kensui Waste-Water Bowl, 1966-1989 (Late Showa), SKU 26M-850-3

A graceful sometsuke porcelain kensui with cobalt blue scenic and floral decoration, made for the quiet rituals of tea ceremony.

This vintage Japanese kensui is a waste-water bowl used in chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony. It is formed in a low, open shape with gently rounded sides, a neatly finished footed base, and a wide mouth suited to its traditional role among tea utensils. The porcelain body is decorated in blue underglaze on white, with hand-painted scenic and ornamental motifs wrapping around the exterior. One side features a mountain landscape with a pine and flowing water, while another presents floral decoration framed by curving stream-like bands. A warm iron-brown rim line adds a refined finishing touch at the lip, while the interior remains clean white and undecorated.

Beyond formal tea use, this beautifully painted vessel also displays well as a piece of vintage Japanese porcelain. Its balanced proportions and blue-and-white palette make it an elegant accent for a shelf, tea utensil display, or study. For collectors of chado implements, sometsuke porcelain, or Late Showa tableware, it offers both visual charm and a clear traditional function.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1966-1989 (Late Showa)
• Material: Porcelain with cobalt blue underglaze decoration (sometsuke)
• Use: Kensui -- waste-water bowl used in Japanese tea ceremony
• Modern Use: Tea utensil display piece; shelf decor; collectible blue-and-white porcelain accent
• Features: Wide open bowl form; footed base; white glazed interior; hand-painted blue landscape and floral motifs; flowing stream-like decorative bands; iron-brown rim line; underside mark
• Dimensions: 5 1/2" Diameter x 2 1/2"H
• Condition: Excellent

A refined vintage tea utensil that brings the understated beauty of Japanese tea ceremony ceramics into the home.

We use professional studio lighting to highlight the natural character of the wood. As a result, the tone may appear slightly warmer than under natural daylight.

All vintage and antique items are sold as-is. Each piece may exhibit signs of age, including scratches, wear, or minor imperfections. These are not considered defects but natural evidence of the item’s authenticity and age.