Vintage Japanese Chawan Tea Bowl, Late Showa 1966-1989 | SKU: 26J-0803-2

Vintage Japanese Chawan Tea Bowl, Late Showa 1966-1989 | SKU: 26J-0803-2

A beautifully speckled stoneware chawan with ash-white glaze and iron spotting, presented in its original signed wooden storage box.

A chawan is a traditional Japanese tea bowl used in the practice of chado -- the way of tea -- for preparing and drinking whisked matcha. This vintage Japanese ceramic chawan displays a warm, milky-white glaze scattered with rich rust-brown iron spots across its rounded cylindrical body, a surface character closely associated with Japanese folk-kiln traditions such as Shino-style stoneware. The form is generous and open-mouthed with a gently irregular rim and a tactile, slightly pitted glaze surface that rewards handling -- qualities long prized by practitioners of the wabi-sabi aesthetic in Japanese tea culture. The unglazed sandy foot rim reveals the warm gritty clay body beneath, and the interior carries a thin, softly pooled glaze. The bowl is accompanied by a wooden storage box inscribed with brush-written characters and a red seal, consistent with a signed presentation box typical of studio pottery from this era, adding meaningful provenance and display value to this handcrafted Japanese ceramic.

Beyond its original ceremonial role, this chawan makes a striking living room accent or minimalist decor object displayed on a shelf or tokonoma-style alcove in a Japandi-style interior. Its warm earthy tones and organic glaze texture complement modern ceramic collections beautifully. The wooden box adds an extra layer of visual interest and can be displayed alongside the bowl. A thoughtful and unique gift for collectors, tea enthusiasts, or anyone drawn to the quiet elegance of Japanese craft -- the bowl and its box together create a complete, displayable package that brings genuine wabi-sabi character to any home setting.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1966-1989 (Late Showa)
• Material: Stoneware ceramic with ash-white glaze and iron-spot speckle finish; wooden storage box with brush inscription and red seal
• Use: Matcha tea ceremony bowl (chawan) used for preparing and drinking whisked matcha
• Modern Use: Display object for a Japandi-style shelf or alcove; decorative accent in a minimalist living room or home office; unique gift for tea collectors or Japanophiles
• Features: Rounded open form with slightly irregular rim; heavily speckled white glaze with rust-brown iron spotting; pitted and textured glaze surface consistent with folk-kiln stoneware tradition; lightly glazed interior with soft pooling; unglazed sandy foot rim exposing raw clay body; accompanied by a signed wooden storage box with brush-written inscription and red seal
• Dimensions: 4 3/4" Diameter x 3 1/2"H
• Condition: Excellent

A genuine piece of vintage Japanese ceramic craft -- this iron-spotted chawan and its signed wooden box bring the quiet beauty of wabi-sabi and the Japanese tea tradition into any modern 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 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.