Kato Shuntai - Bol à thé - Grès - Forme conique sculpturale

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Item Description
This is a Japanese tea bowl (chawan) attributed to Kato Shuntai, a noted Seto ware potter active in the late Edo period. The bowl exhibits an unusually sculptural, dynamic form rarely encountered in comparable pieces, with a tapering conical body that rises to a wide, irregular mouth rim. The surface is covered in a mottled grey-brown Seto-style glaze with subtle ash deposits, glaze pooling, and iron-speckled texture typical of traditional wood-fired production. An impressed seal mark is visible on the underside of the foot.

The bowl is accompanied by a well-crafted paulownia (kiri) wood storage box. The box itself carries no inscription (hako-gaki), and its quality suggests it may have been prepared at a later date specifically to house this piece, rather than being original to it.

Size
Height: 6.5 cm
Width: 12.7 cm

Artist Profile
Kato Shuntai (1802-1877) was a Seto ware potter active during the late Edo period, born into a family of Akazu potters. He is regarded as the 16th-generation heir of the Kato ceramic lineage founded by Kato Masataka. Excelling in ceramics from a young age, he began producing Ofukei-yaki in 1816 and later received the art name "Shuntai" from Nariharu Tokugawa, the 11th-generation daimyo of Owari-han. In addition to traditional Seto techniques, he incorporated Aka-e overglaze painting, Shino-yaki, Oribe-yaki, and the Mugiwarade decorative style into his repertoire. He is credited with reviving Akazu-yaki glaze techniques and is remembered as a restorer of Seto ware and a master craftsman of his era. His works, particularly tea bowls, sake vessels, and water jars, continue to be traded in the Japanese antiques market and are held in specialist ceramic collections.

Condition
The bowl is in good overall condition, with no notable chips, cracks, or staining observed. Surface characteristics such as glaze pooling and kiln-related textural variation are consistent with traditional wood-firing and form part of the original production process rather than damage.

Additional Information
Ware type: Seto ware (Seto-yaki), Japan
Storage box: paulownia (kiri) wood, unsigned
As no box inscription (hako-gaki) is present, attribution to Kato Shuntai should be independently assessed by the buyer.

Shipping method- The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by DHL or EMS depend on the situation. It takes about 3 weeks to receive normally. Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Sometimes Customes or delivery company in your country contact you for Customs clearance via phone or email. Please make sure that you could answer the phone. If you don't, the parcel will return to me and it cost more double shipping fee for reshipping. I appreciate your cooperation.