– By Isen Kiln (井泉窯), contemporary Kyoto pottery specialising in tea ceremony wares – Part of the Gosekku (Five Seasonal Festivals) series – Jinjitsu theme: celebrating the Festival of Seven Herbs (7 January) – Hand-painted seasonal decoration with delicate brushwork Summary: This tea bowl is part of a five-bowl Gosekku (Five Seasonal Festivals) set by Isen Kiln, a contemporary Kyoto pottery known for its tea ceremony wares. This particular bowl represents Jinjitsu, the Festival of Seven Herbs celebrated on 7 January, when families traditionally eat nanakusa-gayu (seven-herb rice porridge) to promote health and longevity in the new year. The bowl is hand-painted with seasonal motifs appropriate to early spring—likely young herbs or early plum blossoms—rendered in delicate brushwork. Originally part of a complete set housed in a wooden storage box, this piece can stand alone as a functional tea bowl or as part of a curated collection celebrating Japanese seasonal culture. Condition is very good, with no chips or cracks. There is something quietly satisfying about objects made in sets, each piece distinct but part of a larger whole. This tea bowl is one of five, each representing one of Japan's traditional seasonal festivals—moments in the calendar when the rhythms of nature, ritual, and daily life intersect. This particular bowl celebrates Jinjitsu, the Festival of Seven Herbs, a quiet, reflective occasion that marks the end of the New Year celebrations and the beginning of the year's work. Jinjitsu falls on the seventh day of the first month, a day when Japanese families traditionally eat nanakusa-gayu—a simple rice porridge made with seven spring herbs. The practice has roots in Chinese customs but became thoroughly Japanese over the centuries, evolving into a ritual of purification and health. The seven herbs—seri (water dropwort), nazuna (shepherd's purse), gogyō (cudweed), hakobera (chickweed), hotokenoza (nipplewort), suzuna (turnip), and suzushiro (radish)—are modest plants, some of them weeds, but together they symbolise renewal, health, and the modest resilience of early spring. The bowl itself is decorated with motifs appropriate to this theme. The painting is delicate and restrained, executed in soft colours with fine brushwork. The imagery likely includes young herbs, plum blossoms, or other symbols of early spring—motifs that evoke the season without overwhelming the bowl's essential simplicity. The decoration is applied over a pale, neutral ground, allowing the painted details to stand out without competing with the form itself. Isen Kiln is a contemporary Kyoto pottery that works within the city's long tradition of tea ceremony ceramics. Kyoto has been the centre of Japanese tea culture since the sixteenth century, and its kilns have supplied tea masters and practitioners for generations. Isen Kiln continues this tradition, producing bowls, tea caddies, and other utensils that combine technical skill with an understanding of tea aesthetics. Their work is characterised by careful craftsmanship, appropriate seasonal decoration, and forms that honour historical precedents while remaining accessible to contemporary users. The Gosekku set to which this bowl belongs is a particularly thoughtful creation. The five seasonal festivals—Jinjitsu, Jōshi (Girls' Day), Tango (Boys' Day), Tanabata (Star Festival), and Chōyō (Chrysanthemum Festival)—have been central to Japanese cultural life for over a millennium. They mark the passage of the year, connecting human activity to the rhythms of nature and the agricultural calendar. A set of tea bowls celebrating these festivals is more than just decorative; it is a way of bringing that seasonal awareness into the tea room, of acknowledging the time of year through the choice of vessel. In a contemporary European interior, this bowl functions beautifully both as a functional object and as a piece of cultural storytelling. It can be used for matcha, of course, but also for coffee, soup, or simply displayed as part of a collection. The seasonal decoration adds a narrative dimension—this is not just a bowl, but a bowl with a story, a connection to a specific moment in the Japanese calendar. Collectors interested in Japanese seasonal culture, tea ceremony, or contemporary Kyoto ceramics will find this piece of considerable interest. The bowl can stand alone, or it can be reunited with its companions to form a complete Gosekku set. Either way, it is a well-made, thoughtful object that brings a sense of seasonal awareness and cultural depth into daily life. Shipping & Handling We ship worldwide via DHL or EMS with full insurance and tracking. Professional packing ensures safe arrival; combined shipping available for multiple wins. Local customs duties are the buyer's responsibility. Seller Guarantee We specialise in authentic Japanese ceramics and guarantee this piece's authenticity. Questions welcome – we reply within 24 hours. 1174