Maker: Shuho (Satsuma ware) Title: Matcha Tea Bowl (Chawan) — Black Satsuma (Kuro-Satsuma) with Morning Glory Design in Overglaze Enamels and Gold, with Original Signed Box This is a Japanese matcha tea bowl (chawan) in the Black Satsuma (kuro-satsuma) tradition, signed by the maker Shuho and presented with its original signed wooden box (tomobako). Against a deep, lustrous black ground, morning-glory flowers and vines are painted in vivid red, yellow, and green enamels and outlined in gold, creating a bowl that is both boldly decorative and rooted in one of Japan's most historic ceramic traditions. About the Tradition — Satsuma Ware and Black Satsuma Satsuma ware began roughly 400 years ago, when Korean potters brought to Japan under the Satsuma domain lord Shimazu Yoshihiro established kilns in what is now Kagoshima. The tradition divides into two families: white Satsuma (shiro-mon), the ornate, richly colored ware once made for the feudal lords, and black Satsuma (kuro-mon / kuro-satsuma), made for everyday people from iron-rich local clay that fires to a deep lustrous black. Where white Satsuma is delicate and courtly, black Satsuma is prized for its bold, weighty, earthy character, and it has a devoted following among collectors. Satsuma ware was celebrated in Europe after the Paris Expositions of the 19th century, and in 2002 it was designated a National Traditional Craft of Japan. About This Bowl — Morning Glory with Gold The bowl showcases the dramatic contrast for which decorated black Satsuma is loved: a jet-black glaze serving as a backdrop for a hand-painted morning-glory (asagao) motif. The blossoms and trailing vines are rendered in warm red, golden yellow, and green, while gold is used to outline the flowers and tendrils, adding a luxurious shimmer that lifts the design against the dark ground. Morning glories are a beloved symbol of summer in Japan, giving the bowl a clear seasonal character well suited to the tea ceremony. Form & Use The bowl has a comfortable, hand-friendly form and pleasing weight, well proportioned for whisking and drinking matcha. It is suitable for actual use in the Japanese tea ceremony (chanoyu) as well as for display. Condition In wonderful condition with no chips, cracks, scratches, or damage. A beautiful piece. Please review all photos, which form part of the description. Presentation & Appeal Complete with its original signed tomobako, which adds to the collectible value and makes it ideal as a gift. It will appeal to practitioners of the tea ceremony, collectors of Satsuma and Japanese ceramics, and anyone drawn to bold, gold-accented Japanese art with a rich cultural history. Shipping from Japan with tracking number and insurance. Fast dispatch via FedEx or DHL. Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges and are the buyer's responsibility. These are normally collected by the delivering carrier or on pickup — please do not confuse them with additional shipping charges.