Vintage item, never used. This Karatsu-yaki (唐津焼) matcha bowl features classic Karatsu-e (唐津絵) brush-painted decoration, embodying the rustic elegance and natural warmth that define ceramics from the historic kilns of Karatsu in Saga Prefecture.
The bowl is crafted from coarse, iron-rich clay typical of the region, resulting in a subtle speckled surface beneath the soft gray glaze. Hand-painted botanical motifs—simple flowers and slender leaves—circle the bowl in understated hakeme style brushwork. The natural iron pigments melt into the glaze during firing, creating earthy, organic tones that give the bowl its distinctive Karatsu character.
The form is gently rounded with a comfortable weight in the hands, its slightly flared rim making it suitable for whisking and enjoying matcha. The foot is unglazed, showing the warm, textured clay body and revealing the craftsmanship of hand-trimming (keshō-kodai).
Karatsu-yaki is celebrated for its unpretentious, tactile beauty—favored by tea masters since the Momoyama period—and this chawan carries that spirit with quiet dignity.
