When tea masters of centuries past sought vessels that embodied both strength and refinement, they turned to artisans who understood that true beauty emerges from the marriage of function and form. This Hana-Mishima bowl continues that revered tradition with contemporary mastery. Crafted by Kato Haruka I (加藤春花・初代), this exceptional ceramic bowl showcases the sophisticated Hana-Mishima technique, a decorative method that originated during Japan's classical periods. The piece is accompanied by a well-fitted wooden storage box (ai-bako / 合箱). The Mishima technique involves inlaying contrasting clay into carved patterns, creating subtle yet striking floral motifs that seem to float beneath the surface glaze. The Mishima decorative technique traces its origins to Korean Yi-dynasty ceramics, refined and perfected by Japanese potters during the Edo period. Named after the Mishima Shrine in Shizuoka Prefecture, where similar inlay techniques adorned wooden prayer plaques, this ceramic method requires extraordinary skill. The potter must carve precise patterns into leather-hard clay, fill them with contrasting slip, and achieve perfect surface unity through careful glazing and firing. Kato Haruka represents a lineage of ceramic artists dedicated to preserving and advancing classical Japanese pottery techniques. The delicate floral patterns (hana) inlaid within this piece reflect seasonal awareness fundamental to Japanese aesthetics, where each element connects to natural cycles and a contemplative appreciation of transient beauty. The neutral palette and refined proportions make this bowl equally suitable for formal tea ceremony or as a striking centerpiece in contemporary settings. The bowl demonstrates exceptional technical achievement in its seamless integration of decorative elements with functional form. The rim curves gracefully, balanced for comfortable handling during tea ceremony, while the foot ring provides stable placement on tatami or modern surfaces. The glaze exhibits the subtle variations prized in Japanese ceramics, with gentle color shifts that reward close examination. This piece shows excellent preservation, with the Mishima inlay work clearly defined and the surface glaze intact throughout. Tea ceremony enthusiasts and ceramic collectors increasingly seek authenticated works by masters who maintain traditional techniques while bringing personal artistic vision to classical forms. This bowl represents such achievement, offering both functional capability for actual tea service and museum-quality artistic merit for display. Attribution to Kato Haruka I (Shodai) — Evidence Seal: The impressed mark is an oval cartouche enclosing the characters「春花」. This framed “Haruka” seal is documented for the first generation; by contrast, the second generation typically used an unframed「春花」seal (and sometimes different personal marks). Style & period idiom: The Hana-Mishima inlay, scalloped/rinka rim, combed interior, and the rustic iron-rich body with milky glaze align with late Edo–early Meiji Seto/tea-utensil trends closely associated with the first generation’s working dates. Taken together—especially the framed「春花」seal—the features support attribution to Kato Haruka I. 1004