Okada Kiln (岡田窯) - Tea bowl - Stoneware - 6th Generation Master

Item Description
岡田政右衛門 Okada Masaemon (6th Generation, Okada Kiln) —萩茶碗 Hagi Matcha Bowl
This graceful Hagi ware matcha bowl (chawan) was crafted by the 6th generation master of the Okada Kiln (Okada-gama), one of the most historically distinguished kilns in Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. The Okada Kiln traces its origins to the Edo period, maintaining an unbroken lineage of more than 200 years of ceramic tradition.
The bowl showcases the quintessential beauty of Hagi ware: a warm, sandy-buff clay body partially covered with a soft, milky-white glaze (shirahagi glaze) that sweeps across the form in a characteristic diagonal flow, leaving areas of the natural clay surface expressively exposed. The glazed surface displays a subtle, nuanced texture with hints of pale blue-grey, while the unglazed areas reveal the distinctive iron-rich terracotta tone for which Hagi ware is celebrated. The foot ring (kōdai) is cleanly trimmed and shows the characteristic notch — the traditional "Hagi kizami" — a hallmark of authentic Hagi chawan.
Hagi ware is revered in the world of Japanese tea ceremony, traditionally ranked "first Raku, second Hagi, third Karatsu" (ichi-Raku, ni-Hagi, san-Karatsu) among tea ceramics. Over time, the glaze develops a phenomenon known as "Hagi no nanabake" (seven transformations), subtly changing colour and character as tea is absorbed into the fine crazing of the glaze — making each bowl a living, evolving object of beauty.
The piece comes in its original fitted wooden box (tomobako), inscribed with the title "萩茶碗" (Hagi Chawan) and bearing the artist's seal, confirming authenticity.

Size
Height: 8.5 cm
Width: 12 cm (diameter)

Weight
268 g (bowl only) / 594 g (including wooden box)

Condition
The bowl is in excellent overall condition with no chips, cracks, or repairs; the glazed surface presents naturally occurring kiln variations and crazing consistent with authentic Hagi ware, and the wooden tomobako box shows minor age-related patina appropriate to its age.

Artist Profile
岡田政右衛門 Okada Masaemon (6th Generation Okada Kiln)
The Okada Kiln (Okada-gama) is one of the most venerable Hagi ware kilns in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, established during the Edo period by the 1st generation master. For over 200 years, the kiln has been passed down through successive generations, each master refining and perpetuating the classic Hagi aesthetic. The 6th generation, Masaemon, carried the lineage through the Meiji and Taisho eras, producing works in the finest tradition of Hagi tea ceramics — characterised by warm, porous clay bodies, soft feldspathic glazes, and a profound connection to the spirit of the Japanese tea ceremony. The Okada Kiln is currently led by the 8th generation, Okada Yū, a designated holder of Yamaguchi Prefecture's Intangible Cultural Heritage. This piece with its original tomobako represents a rare opportunity to acquire a documented work from an early generation of this distinguished lineage.

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