A quietly evocative tea bowl where soft cream tones and fluid brushwork conjure the gentle rhythm of rolling waves. Description: This tea bowl presents a gently rounded form with subtly undulating walls, rising from a modest foot to a softly flared rim. The overall silhouette conveys a sense of balance and quiet strength, characteristic of vessels shaped for the intimacy of the tea ceremony. The exterior surface is covered in a warm, cream-colored glaze displaying a fine crackle pattern throughout. Against this pale ground, a hand-painted wave motif in soft blue pigment sweeps across the body—curling crests, swirling foam, and scattered droplets rendered with confident, flowing brushstrokes. The blue tones range from pale washes to deeper cobalt accents, lending the design a sense of depth and movement. Faint blushes of pink and amber emerge naturally within the glaze, adding warmth and visual interest. The interior reveals the same creamy, crackled glaze with delicate pink-orange fire marks visible toward the center. The foot ring is left partially unglazed, exposing the reddish-brown clay body and showing characteristic iron oxidation. An impressed kiln mark reading "葵窯" (Aoi-gama) is visible on the underside near the foot. Cultural & Art Context: Kishu ware has its roots in the ceramics produced under the patronage of the Kishu Domain during the Edo period. After these traditions fell into decline following the Meiji Restoration, the Aoi-gama kiln was established to revive and preserve this regional heritage. The wave motif holds particular resonance in Japanese art, evoking both the natural beauty of the coastline and longstanding aesthetic traditions. Collector Appeal: Tea bowls by established regional kilns with documented lineages are appreciated by collectors seeking works that combine traditional craftsmanship with individual artistic expression. Pieces from the Aoi-gama kiln are seldom encountered outside Japan. Artist Profile: Samukawa Seiho II (born 1946) is a Japanese potter working in Nanki Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture. Born in Koyaguchi-cho, Wakayama, he began training under his father, the first Seiho (Yoshikazu Samukawa), at the age of nineteen. In 1976, he succeeded as the second-generation head of the Aoi-gama kiln. He relocated the climbing kiln from Katata to Saino in Shirahama in 1995 and fired his first kiln at the new location in 1996. His work focuses primarily on tea ceramics, continuing the traditions established by his father, including the distinctive Nachiguro glaze developed from local Kumano stone. He received the Wakayama Prefecture Cultural Promotion Governor's Award in 2011 and the Shirahama Town Cultural Merit Mayor's Award in 2012. He currently serves as a juror for art exhibitions in Wakayama Prefecture, Wakayama City, and Tanabe City. Shipping / Policy: Carefully packaged and shipped from Japan by Japan Post or DHL with tracking. If you purchase multiple items, combined shipping is available. Please contact us if needed. Import duties, VAT (or equivalent consumption tax), and any other fees are the responsibility of the buyer. Guarantee: Our shop is a licensed antiques dealer in Japan. We guarantee the authenticity of this work.