Isonishi (磯西) - Pot - Stoneware - Koyo (紅萫) Bizen Chaire

Name: Bizen Ware Chaire Tea Caddy “Koyo (紅萫)” with Daitoku-ji (大德寺) Temple Inscription
Artist: Isonishi (磯西)
Origin: Bizen, Okayama Japan
Caddy Dimensions: H 7.2 cm × Max Ø 6.7 cm (2.83 × 2.64 in)
Weight: 92.8 g
Tomobako Outer Size: H 9.3 cm × W 8.9 cm (3.66 × 3.50 in)
Material: Natural raw Bizen clay / Stoneware
Production Period: Circa 1993–1997, Heisei (平成) 5 ~ Heisei 9

This classic pearl-shaped Bizen matcha chaire (茶入) was hand-thrown by established potter Isonishi from 1993 to 1997, during his prime creative phase. The vessel was formally titled Koyo (紅萫) by an eminent Zen monk of Daitoku-ji (大德寺), a prestigious Rinzai Zen temple inseparably connected with iconic tea master Sen no Rikyū (千利休). The whole artwork incarnates traditional Japanese Wabi-sabi (侘寂) aesthetics: Wabi-sabi pursues primitive and unmodified natural beauty, rejects superfluous artificial carving and ornamentation, and appreciates random natural kiln changes as well as aged patina accumulated over years, which serves as the core aesthetic shared by Bizen pottery and Daitoku-ji tea culture.

It follows orthodox Edo-period classic chaire specification: short fitted mouth paired with its matching original kiln lid, plump rounded belly narrowing downwards, one delicate circling line carved around midsection and a small flat ring foot, the canonical antique shape for thick matcha storage dating back to the Edo era.

Crafted with deep indigenous clay excavated from Imbe, Bizen core producing area; unglazed body features dark brown base tone covered in natural flowing amber Hi-jō (火襷) kiln mottles formed via pinewood anagama firing. Every irregular streak is one-of-a-kind and irreproducible, perfectly matching the maple leaf implication of its inscribed name Koyo. Tiny protruding natural kiln beads across the surface are inherent features of traditional wood firing; no artificial glaze or hand-drawn decoration applied, entirely consistent with Wabi-sabi’s creed of revering nature and avoiding excessive craftsmanship.

Handwritten calligraphy inscribed directly on original wooden tomobako (共箱) counts as high-grade collectible authentication, proving the piece was appreciated and preserved by Daitoku-ji’s resident tea monks.

Vertical inscriptions on tomobako read right to left: Right: Daitoku-ji (大德寺), Middle: Koyo (紅萫), Left: Kōbō-zō (工房造), alongside the maker’s exclusive kaisho (花押) personal signature. Dual hallmark on the jar base: hand-carved character Iso (磯) plus framed stamped Nishi (西), the exclusive workshop mark of Isonishi kiln.

Complete set comprises original tomobako, vintage yellow silk tomonuno (共布) and original binding silk cord. Only mild natural dust and subtle age wear exist; all kiln discoloration intact, no chips, hairline cracks or restorations. Overall condition is excellent for its age, and the mellow aged patina is regarded as a valuable Wabi-sabi feature among western collectors.

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