Aka-Raku-yaki - Tea bowl - Clay

This is a Japanese Raku ware style red Raku matcha tea bowl, a tea bowl specifically for tea ceremony preparation, and comes with its original paulownia wood offering box.

Raku ware is a representative tea pottery of Kyoto. Red Raku has a reddish-brown glaze, is hand-sculpted, not thrown, and has a naturally irregular "clam-mouth" rim, a typical characteristic of Raku ware.

Glaze and Crackle: The entire bowl is covered in a reddish-ochre red Raku glaze, with fine, dense crackles, and a warm, lustrous surface. Black glaze spots are used as accents in certain areas.

Exterior Decoration: A relief white clay painting depicts wind chimes and curtains. The hanging bells and the lines beside them represent eaves and curtains, a Japanese auspicious motif. It belongs to the painting theme corresponding to "Imperial Inscription".

Bottom: The characteristic thick, high foot of Raku ware, revealing the off-white coarse earthenware body. A circular seal in the center is the engraving of the kiln owner, Wakatsuki.

Interior: The interior of the bowl is covered in a red glaze, also with natural crackles, and was used to hold matcha.