Item Description Nezumi Shino (鼠志野) Handled Basket Bowl (手鉢) — Mino Ware, Unused, with Original Wooden Box A striking and deeply characterful piece of Japanese ceramics: a Nezumi Shino handled basket bowl (鼠志野手鉢 / Nezumi Shino Tebachi) in the revered Mino ware tradition, presented in its original wooden box (tomobako) bearing a handwritten title inscription. Nezumi Shino — literally "grey mouse Shino" — is one of the most prized and distinctive styles within the Shino ware family, itself a cornerstone of Japanese ceramic culture since the Azuchi-Momoyama period (late 16th century). The technique begins with the application of 鬼板 (onita), an iron-rich clay slip, across the entire surface of the unfired vessel. The potter then scrapes away areas to create the design, before coating the whole piece in the characteristic Shino long-feldspar white glaze. In firing, the areas retaining the iron slip develop the haunting grey-to-near-black tones that define Nezumi Shino, while the scraped-away areas reveal the glaze in lighter, more luminous passages — a two-tone contrast of controlled accident and intention. This particular piece takes the form of a handled basket bowl (手鉢 / tebachi) — a shallow oval dish with a dramatically arched single handle rising above the body. The form is both functional and sculptural: suited equally to holding wagashi sweets at the tea table, displaying seasonal flowers, or simply standing alone as an object of contemplation. The interior of the bowl bears bold, freely drawn white abstract brush motifs — energetic curving lines and hatched forms — on the deep charcoal-grey ground, in the confident, calligraphic manner of Momoyama-era ceramic decoration. The same abstract white sgrafitto patterning continues on the outer wall, while the arched handle carries the uneven, textured surface typical of hand-formed Shino stoneware — each facet of the clay surface catching light differently. The base is unglazed, showing the raw clay body with a clearly defined ring foot. The wooden box is inscribed in brushwork calligraphy: 鼠志野手鉢 (Nezumi Shino Tebachi), with a signature that may be read as 塩茶 (Encha) — an artist name or kiln designation in cursive brushwork. The box shows age, but the ceramic itself has never been used. Type: Handled basket bowl (手鉢 / tebachi) Style: Nezumi Shino (鼠志野), Mino ware (美濃焼) Technique: Onita iron slip with sgrafitto decoration under Shino long-feldspar glaze Signed: Tomobako inscribed "鼠志野手鉢" with artist signature (possibly Encha / 塩茶) Includes: Original wooden tomobako Condition: Unused Size Height: 11.6 cm (including handle) Width: 16.6 cm Depth: 15.0 cm Bowl height only: 4.3 cm Weight 500 g Condition Unused and in excellent condition throughout. No chips, cracks, or repairs to the ceramic. The wooden tomobako shows natural ageing consistent with its age but is structurally sound and intact. Artist Profile Nezumi Shino (鼠志野) is a variety of Shino ware produced in the Mino region (present-day Gifu Prefecture), one of Japan's most historically significant ceramic production areas. Shino ware is broadly considered the first truly Japanese ceramic style — the first to move away from Chinese and Korean aesthetic influence — and represents the embodiment of the wabi-cha (侘び茶) spirit championed by Sen no Rikyu and the great tea masters of the late Muromachi and Momoyama periods. The technique uses mogusa-tsuchi or hyakusou-do clay — a low-iron, off-white clay unique to the Toki and Kani areas of Gifu — coated in a thick long-feldspar white glaze. In the Nezumi Shino variant, the potter applies an iron-rich clay slip called onita (鬼板) as a base coat, then scrapes away the design; the scraped areas remain white while the iron-bearing areas fire to a deep charcoal-grey — giving rise to the name "Nezumi" (mouse / grey). The spontaneity of the kiln firing means no two pieces are identical, and the most admired examples carry a sense of life and unpredictability that collectors and tea practitioners have treasured for over four centuries. Shino ware, including Nezumi Shino, is designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Japan. NOITICE: The photos may show flowers, plants, pedestals, etc. as examples of decorations and interior design for illustrative purposes, but please note that these are not included in the product. The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by DHL , FedEx or Japan Post depend on the situation. It takes about 10 days 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 Customs 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 us and it cost more double shipping fee for reshipping. We do appreciate for your kind cooperation.