Vintage item, never used. A graceful Kiyomizu-yaki (清水焼) chawan, or matcha tea bowl, decorated with a stylised plum blossom (梅 / ume) motif.
The bowl has a softly rounded form with a gently flared rim and a compact foot, creating a balanced shape that sits comfortably in the hands. Its warm ivory-white glaze provides a calm background for the expressive decoration, while subtle horizontal throwing lines remain visible beneath the surface and add to its handmade character.
Kiyomizu-yaki (清水焼) belongs to the wider tradition of Kyō-yaki (京焼) ceramics produced in Kyoto. Rather than being defined by one particular clay or glaze, Kyoto ware is known for its great variety of techniques and its refined decorative sensibility.
Across the exterior, dark sweeping brushstrokes form the trunk and branches of a plum tree. Small blossoms and buds are picked out in black and warm reddish-brown, creating a restrained yet lively composition. The bold movement of the branches contrasts beautifully with the pale ceramic body, giving the bowl a distinctly painterly quality.
The plum blossom (梅) is one of Japan’s most beloved seasonal motifs. Because it flowers at the end of winter, often before the arrival of warmer weather, it has long symbolised resilience, perseverance, renewal and the coming of spring.
