Tea Bowl with Floral Design in Buncheong Ware with Iron Painting — Pre-owned

Tea Bowl with Floral Design in Buncheong Ware with Iron Painting — Pre-owned
By Jo Senkichi
Title: “Yukiwasou” (Snow-Ring Flowers)
With inscription by Hosoai Katsudō, Former Abbot of Daitoku-ji

This tea bowl was crafted by Jo Senkichi, a ceramic artist working within the tradition of Buncheong ware with iron painting. Buncheong ware is admired for its subtle, earthy tones, distinctive iron-painted designs, and expressive surfaces created through the interaction of clay, glaze, and firing techniques. Each piece’s natural variations give it a unique character, highly valued in the world of Japanese tea practice.

The bowl is accompanied by an original hakogaki (box inscription) written by Hosoai Katsudō, former abbot of Daitoku-ji, one of Kyoto’s most revered Zen temples. This inscription situates the piece firmly within the spiritual and cultural lineage of chanoyu.

The chawan bears the title “Yukiwasou” (Snow-Ring Flowers), evoking the beauty of nature across the seasons. This traditional expression symbolizes elegance, harmony, and the fleeting yet precious moments of life. Within the context of tea practice, it inspires a poetic appreciation for nature and seasonal change.

Buncheong tea bowls are admired for their soft textures, warm tones, and expressive iron-painted surfaces formed during firing. The gently irregular form reflects the wabi aesthetic, where beauty is found in natural variation, simplicity, and quiet depth.

This piece is offered in very good pre-owned condition and has been carefully preserved. It is suitable for use in tea gatherings as well as for collectors who appreciate Zen-inscribed tea ware connected to the traditions and spirit of the Japanese tea ceremony.