This vintage piece is a 建水（けんすい / kensui, waste-water bowl used in the tea ceremony）, crafted in the 三島焼（Mishima-yaki） style within the 京焼（Kyō-yaki） tradition.
The hallmark of 三島手（Mishima-de） is evident in its surface: the vessel is decorated with repeating stamped floral and geometric inlay patterns, resembling the motifs seen in the old Mishima calendar charts distributed by Mishima Taisha Shrine in Shizuoka Prefecture. These rhythmic, incised decorations are filled with white slip, creating a soft contrast against the subdued gray body.
Historically, Mishima ware is believed to have arrived in Japan through the Korean peninsula, and its introduction dates back to around 1586. At that time, Japanese tea culture was undergoing a major shift: the earlier admiration for Chinese Tenmoku (唐物天目) wares gradually gave way to the appreciation of Korean-style bowls (高麗茶碗). Within this context, Mishima patterns (三島手文様) became widely admired, particularly by the common people, and appeared abundantly in everyday wares as well as tea utensils.
This kensui exemplifies that heritage — its broad, rounded form and flared rim are practical for the tea ceremony, while its quiet gray-blue glaze and intricate stamped designs embody the refined rusticity that defines Mishima ware. As a Kyō-yaki interpretation of the style, it bridges classical Korean influences with Japanese tea aesthetics, offering both historical resonance and functional beauty.
The item had been repaired when I received it. Please carefully examine the condition depicted in the photos.
