This matcha bowl (抹茶碗, chawan) is a fine example of 瀬戸焼（Seto-yaki）, specifically in the 黃瀬戸（Kisetō） style, originating from Seto in Aichi Prefecture, one of Japan’s historic Six Ancient Kilns.
The exterior is finished in a characteristic warm yellow glaze with natural variations, blending into earthy browns and flowing drips, a hallmark of 黃瀬戸’s rustic and understated charm. The glaze pools and thins in places, creating a sense of depth and organic texture, evoking the aesthetics of wabi-sabi cherished in the tea ceremony.
Inside, the bowl features a soft grey-white surface with fine crackle glaze (貫入, kan’nyū), giving it an aged, timeless character. At the center of the interior lies a spiral motif on the base, designed not only as an artistic element but also with functional purpose: when whisking matcha, the spiral helps to disperse and break up the tea powder evenly, ensuring a smooth and frothy preparation.
The combination of 黃瀬戸’s golden tones with the subtle interior crackle glaze makes this chawan both visually appealing and practical, embodying the spirit of Seto’s long ceramic tradition while serving as an ideal vessel for the Japanese tea ceremony.
