"Title: Flat Teapot (Kyusu) - Exquisite ""Banko-ware / Yohen Bronze Glaze Run / Three-legged（萬古焼・窯変釉流し・三つ足）"" design - Ceramic Description: 1. Overview This is an exceptionally sleek and architectural traditional Japanese Hira-Dobin / Flat Kyusu (平土瓶 / 平急須 - minimalist flat teapot) originating from the celebrated traditional kilns of Banko ware (萬古焼) in Mie Prefecture. This premier piece showcases a striking contrast between a satin-black body and a bold, metallic flammé splash of Bronze-Gold Yohen glaze (窯変釉流し). Stamped with the official ""Banko"" rectangular seal on its raw purple-clay base, this vintage teapot is in near-mint condition and comes equipped with an elegant, hand-woven rattan handle. 2. Specifications Object: Hira-Dobin / Flat Teapot (平土瓶 / 高級煎茶器) Kiln/Origin: Banko Ware (萬古焼) - Mie Prefecture (Stamped with the official ""Banko"" seal) Glaze Style: Satin Black finish with a metallic Bronze/Gold flammé crystallization run (Yohen) Materials: High-fired purple-clay stoneware (Shidei), natural woven rattan handle Era: Late Showa period (Vintage / Modern Ceramic Craft) Condition: Near-Mint condition. The ceramic body is flawlessly preserved with no chips, cracks, or tea stains. The woven rattan handle is tight, strong, and completely intact. Dimensions (Approx.): Height 6.0 cm (excluding handle) × Diameter 15.0 cm 3. Artistry and Highlights of the Banko Flat Teapot The Minimalist ""Hira"" (Flat) Silhouette: Banko ware is world-renowned for its mastery of teaware engineering. This specialized low-profile, disc-like form—standing at just 6 cm high against a wide 15 cm diameter—is highly revered in Sencha tea ceremonies. This wide-bottomed architecture allows premium tea leaves to spread out flat and open up completely naturally, extracting the purest, most rounded umami flavors without bitterness. The Alchemy of Bronze Yohen Glaze: The body is dressed in a smooth, midnight-black glaze. Over the lid and shoulder, the artisan has dramatically unleashed a high-temperature metallic glaze that has crystallized into a stunning sheen of liquid bronze and burnt-gold. This abstract, spontaneous ""scenery"" (Keshiki) gives the teapot a deeply contemporary, avant-garde appearance. The Sophistication of the Three-Legged Base: On the reverse side, the raw, unglazed iron-rich purple clay is exposed, showing three short, sculptural legs (Mitsu-ashi). This tripodal structure elevates the teapot slightly off the table surface, giving this heavy stoneware object a sense of floating, lightweight elegance. 4. Appeal for International Collectors Banko purple-clay teaware is historically coveted across Asia for its unique mineral composition that naturally mellows the taste of tea water. This particular vessel transcends traditional folk-craft, stepping into the realm of mid-century functional art. Its chic, monochrome and metallic palette combined with the woven natural texture of the handle allows it to function as a jaw-dropping design centerpiece in high-end Western modern kitchens, contemporary tea bars, and fine Asian ceramic collections."