Vintage Japanese Chawan Tea Bowl, Late Showa 1966-1989 | SKU: 26J-0803-4

Vintage Japanese Chawan Tea Bowl, Late Showa 1966-1989 | SKU: 26J-0803-4

A handcrafted studio chawan with olive ash glaze, iron brush decoration, and tomobako -- a deeply wabi-sabi ceramic for the tea ceremony or the modern collector.

A chawan is the essential tea bowl used in the Japanese tea ceremony (chado) for whisking and drinking matcha. This vintage Japanese ceramic chawan is wheel-thrown from iron-rich stoneware clay and finished in a warm olive-green ash glaze that pools and shifts across the surface, revealing subtle amber and dark brown tones at the rim and base. Fine horizontal combing marks from the throwing process encircle the exterior, lending the bowl a quiet rhythm that is unmistakably handcrafted. Iron-oxide brushwork on the exterior adds loose, gestural marks -- a hallmark of expressive Japanese studio ceramics from the late Showa era. The interior glaze is richly mottled in deep olive and dark brown, ideally suited for the vivid green of whisked matcha. The foot ring (kodai) is left unglazed, exposing the raw reddish-brown clay body in the honest, unpretentious manner prized by tea masters. The piece is accompanied by its original tomobako -- a fitted paulownia wood box -- with a brush-written inscription and a red potter's seal, confirming its status as a named studio work.

In a modern home, this vintage chawan makes a stunning living room accent or display object on a shelf, mantel, or side table in a Japandi-style or wabi-sabi aesthetic interior. Its earthy palette and hand-formed character pair beautifully with natural linen, raw wood, and stone surfaces. Beyond display, it functions wonderfully as an everyday matcha bowl for the home tea enthusiast, or as a small vessel for holding rings, stones, or other keepsakes on a bedside table or bathroom vanity. Complete with its tomobako, it presents as a uniquely considered gift for collectors of Japanese vintage ceramics, a housewarming gift for admirers of Japanese craft, or a treasured addition to any curated tea practice.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1966-1989 (Late Showa)
• Material: Iron-rich stoneware ceramic; olive-green ash glaze with iron-oxide brush decoration; unglazed reddish-brown foot ring; accompanied by original paulownia tomobako with brush inscription and red potter seal
• Use: Japanese tea ceremony chawan -- used for preparing and drinking matcha
• Modern Use: Matcha bowl for everyday tea practice; decorative accent in a wabi-sabi or Japandi-style living room or shelf display; small keepsake or jewelry holder on a bedside table or vanity
• Features: Wheel-thrown form with horizontal combing on exterior; mottled olive and dark brown interior glaze; iron brushwork decoration on exterior wall; raw unglazed kodai (foot ring); original tomobako with brush-written title and red seal stamp; silk braided box cord present
• Dimensions: 5 1/4" Diameter x 3 1/4"H
• Condition: Excellent

A quietly powerful piece of vintage Japanese ceramic art -- this studio chawan brings the meditative spirit of the tea ceremony 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.