A beautiful Japanese Raku ware (楽焼) chawan matcha tea bowl, crafted by Yoshimura Sōraku (吉村宗楽), associated with Kyoto's traditional Raku pottery craftsmanship.
The bowl features a warm reddish-pink glaze with subtle grey and earthy patches, creating a rich, organic appearance. Its gently irregular rim, rounded body, and delicate network of fine glaze crazing give the piece a distinctive handmade character. The natural variations in colour and texture reflect the understated beauty of Japanese tea ceramics.
Raku ware (楽焼) is one of Japan's most celebrated pottery traditions, originating in Kyoto during the late 16th century and closely associated with the Japanese tea ceremony (chanoyu). Traditionally shaped by hand rather than on a potter's wheel, Raku tea bowls are admired for their intimate, tactile qualities, irregular forms, and expression of wabi-sabi aesthetics.
The Yoshimura family is a distinguished lineage of Kyoto Raku-ware craftsmen, known for preserving traditional pottery techniques while developing their own artistic interpretations. The second-generation Yoshimura Rakunyū was born in 1929, while the third-generation Yoshimura Rakunyū, born in September 1959, continues the family's ceramic heritage.
This chawan embodies the spirit of Kyoto's tea culture, combining simplicity, warmth, and the expressive qualities of Raku pottery. Its softly rounded shape and distinctive reddish glaze make it a charming piece for matcha preparation, Japanese tea ceremonies, or display in a collection of traditional Japanese ceramics.
Size: 12 x 12 x 8cm
