Tea Cups - Porcelain - China - Transitional Period

A nice Set of Three Ko-Sometsuke Blue and White Tea Bowls with Original Tomobako and Tomonuno
China, Transitional Period / Late Ming dynasty, circa 1620–1645

A rare and refined set of three blue and white porcelain tea bowls (chaki), produced at the Jingdezhen kilns during the late Ming Transitional period specifically for the Japanese tea ceremony market (Chanoyu). Such wares are traditionally known in Japan as Ko-Sometsuke (古染付).

The bowls are finely potted with steep sides and a deep foot ring. Their understated exterior decoration consists only of two subtle underglaze-blue line borders near the rim and foot, creating an elegant minimalist appearance much admired in Japanese tea aesthetics. The interior center of each bowl is freely painted with a spiral chrysanthemum roundel, known in Japan as Kikumaru (菊丸).

The glaze displays the characteristic soft bluish tone associated with early 17th-century Ko-Sometsuke porcelain. The spontaneous brushwork, restrained decoration, and slightly irregular hand-finished character embody the wabi-inspired aesthetic highly appreciated in Japanese tea culture.

The underside of each bowl bears an apocryphal six-character Chenghua mark in underglaze blue:

大明成化年製
(Da Ming Chenghua Nian Zhi)

The set is preserved in its original Japanese Tomobako (wooden storage box) accompanied by a yellow Tomonuno protective cloth. The lid of the box is inscribed in semi-cursive Japanese calligraphy with:

青華碗 (Seika-wan — “Blue and White Tea Bowls”)

together with a poetic tea-name (mei).

A red collector’s or dealer’s label on the exterior of the box further identifies the set as:

古染付 菊丸 五 茶器
(Kosometsuke Kikumaru Go Chaki)

confirming the Ko-Sometsuke attribution, chrysanthemum decoration, and original five-piece composition. The accompanying silk cloth is additionally signed with a Japanese collector’s or dealer’s calligraphic signature (kao) and red seal (hanko).

Provenance:
From an old Japanese private collection, preserved together with its complete and well-documented original packaging (Tomobako and Tomonuno), providing strong historical provenance and continuity of ownership.

Please refer to the images for the definitive and binding description of the item’s condition.

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+++ Bids below the reserve price will not be considered after the auction closes, please bid to buy. +++
Reserve: EUR 150

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Dimensions:
W 7 × H 5 cm

Condition:
Overall in good condition, no restorations or breaks. One cup with a small chip and another with a minor rim frit, the latter corresponding to the so-called mushikui (虫食い — “worm bites” or “caterpillar bites”) commonly encountered on early tea ceramics.

Please refer to the images for the definitive and binding description of the item’s condition.

Shipping method: The item is securely packed and shipped with insurance.