This tea bowl has long been praised as a masterpiece among Chojiro-yaki black tea bowls, and is listed as one of the seven types of Chojiro, along with "Daikoku" and "Koguro." *Toyobo The half-cut tortoiseshell-like shape, with a clear boundary between the body and the waist, has a thin base, and a shallow vertical spatula can be faintly seen on the body side. The rim is cut from the inside to the outside, and is in a so-called "single-character" style, with no change in height. The round, ring-shaped foot is relatively high and wide, so the back of the foot is deep and narrow, but there is no obvious artificiality. There is a depression at the bottom of the wide inner bosom, which gives it a spacious feel, that may be the precursor to a tea puddle, and there are also traces of pinching on the body side. The entire inside and outside is covered with a black glaze, with pale brown spots visible here and there, but compared to the shiny black color of the outer glaze, the glaze on the inner side is less glossy. □It has been handed down in an almost perfect condition, with only one lacquer repaired scratch on the edge and a thin vertical gutter. *In 1905, we moved from central Kyoto to Higashiyama, in front of the gates of Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and opened the tea kiln "Shorakugama." And now, we have moved our kiln to the mountain village of Kameoka, northwest of Kyoto, where we have continued to pass on the spirit and techniques of our founder, Yoshinosuke, and have a history of over 100 years. Since its opening in 1905, Shoraku Kiln has been researching tea bowls for the tea ceremony for over 100 years, led by successive generations of Seiunken and Sasaki Shoraku, and is currently run by the second generation Sasaki Kyoshitsu. In addition, the "Shoraku Kiln", which has been running alongside Shoraku Kiln, was given the name "Shoraku" by Master Deguchi Onisaburo when it moved to Kameoka, Kyoto in 1944 and served as the maker of the Onisaburo Raku ware "Yowan". *Raku ware was started by Chojiro, the first generation member of the Raku family, during the Momoyama period (16th century). The roots of the Raku ware technique are the three-colored ceramics of the Ming Dynasty in China. During the Momoyama period, pottery using brightly colored three-color glazes began to be fired, mainly in Kyoto, and Chojiro is thought to have been one of the pottery masters who possessed this technique. The ancient documents mention Chojiro's father, Ameya, a Chinese man, and although no works remain, it can be said that this person was the one who brought the Sansai pottery technique from China. The oldest work left behind by Chojiro is a two-colored lion statue, created in the spring of 1574. It is thought that Raku tea bowls were probably made several years later, around 1579. Customers Information 1.Shipping Notification and Tracking The shipment will be sent via Japan Post with fast delivery and a tracking number. Please note that the item will be securely packed, meaning the package may be larger and heavier than the product itself. We will also notify you via email with logistics updates. However, please understand that Japan Post cannot control the courier companies overseas. Kindly check your email for tracking updates and use the provided tracking number to track your shipment. We recommend tracking the package yourself using the provided logistics information. 2.Condition of Antique Items As this is an antique item, it may have original creases, stains, damages, and other signs of age. Please refer to the listing photos for an overview of the condition, but please keep in mind that it's difficult to capture all details through photos. 3.Additional Costs, Charges, and Declaration Additional costs such as customs duties, import taxes, customs clearance, and handling fees may apply during shipment. We will declare the product price (final auction bid amount) accurately for customs purposes. If you have any specific requests or concerns, please contact us in advance. These charges will be billed to you by the relevant parties at a later stage, if applicable. 4.Important Information for Italian Customers Based on recent information from Japan Post, there have been some logistical issues with shipments to Italy, such as higher chances of customs duties, and delays or inaccuracies in tracking updates. We kindly ask Italian customers to understand these potential issues when placing a bid. Thank you for your understanding and support.