Import duties* taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please note: For lots with a value of €150 or more, Catawiki does not collect VAT at the time of purchase. You will be required to pay import duties, VAT, and administrative customs fees directly to the courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS, or Speed Post) upon delivery. For more details, please see catawiki’s Shipping Policy. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding. By bidding on this lot, you acknowledge and agree to these terms. Thank you for your understanding." Product Description* Raku Ware (楽焼) During the Azuchi-Momoyama period and Tensho era (late 16th century), Sen no Rikyu, the founder of tea ceremony, came up with the idea of ​​creating tea bowls, which embody the aesthetic sense of "Rikyu-wabi-cha" (a style of tea ceremony) in Kyoto. These ceramics were born in Kyoto and nurtured by the tea ceremony. Unlike the birth and development of regional kiln industries such as those at the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan, these bowls have the clear purpose of being made for the tea ceremony. Furthermore, they were born from the aesthetic sense and philosophy of Rikyu no Rikyu-wabi-cha, which is linked to Zen. Shoraku Sasaki Ⅲ (三代 佐々木昭楽 ) The third generation of a Kyoto pottery family with over 100 years of history. Born in Kyoto in 1944. Studied under his father, the second generation Shoraku, in 1963. While preserving tradition, focusing on Akaraku and Kuroraku, he focuses on creating elegant tea ceremony pottery. His motto is to create tea bowls that are not just for viewing, but that can be used to enjoy tea at the tea ceremony. Condition* In Very Good condition. There are pain and stains due to aged deterioration,but no problem with functionality. Please use zoom to inspect all pictures closely for the cosmetic condition. This item is sold as a collectible, decor and not intended for daily use. Shipping* We will send items from yabai artworks Japan. FedEx International Priority DHL WORLD WIDE UPS Worldwide Saver Handling of ceramics （pottery) *Care for pottery (sealing treatment)* Starch will coat the surface and prevent stains from seeping into the pottery. 1. Insert the pottery into a pot filled with starch water (from washing rice or corn or potato starch melted in water) and bring it to a boil on low to medium heat. Let it boil for around 20 minutes on low heat. 2. Let it cool down, then rinse, and allow it to dry naturally. 3. If the crevices are not totally filled after one application, you may try again until they are totally filled. **Prevent Stains, Odors, and Mold** If you soak the product in clean water before use and let it absorb some of the water, this will reduce the amount of impurities able to penetrate the surface. Pottery products are water absorbent, so if they are left in water for a long time, they may absorb impurities, causing stains, odors, and mold. Please wash the product immediately with detergent and dry well. When storing the container, ensure it is kept sufficiently dry. Insufficient drying may cause an odor or mold growth. If the product does become stained or smelly, you can remedy this by dissolving baking soda or kitchen bleach in water and soaking the product in it. ***About crazing*** When pottery and porcelain are fired with glaze, a material containing characteristics similar to glass, it not only adds color and texture to the ceramics, but also prevents water absorption and discoloration. Firing at high temperatures allows the glaze to adhere to the ceramic, but as it naturally cools, cracks may appear on the surface. Cracks may also appear when a vessel is suddenly filled with something hot, and the formation of these cracks is called crazing. Physical objects have the property of expanding when heated and contracting when cooled. Since the ceramic and the glaze have different rates of expansion and contraction, they interfere with each other as the temperature changes, resulting in crazing. Crazing does not mean that the piece is broken or damaged, and there is no impact on its usability, so please do not worry about using it. With continuous use, water and food color will seep through the crazing and give a deeper flavor to the vessel. If you wish to prevent this from happening, you can boil it in water mixed with rice or flour to fill in the cracks before the first usage.