This Aka-Shino (赤志野) chawan is a warm and expressive tea bowl that beautifully showcases the rich, earthy character of Mino ware traditions. The bowl is formed in a compact, well-balanced shape with gently rounded walls and a slightly inward-curving rim, offering a comfortable hold in the hands. Its surface is covered in a distinctive iron-rich red Shino glaze, where soft, mottled tones of rust-red, persimmon, and pale feldspathic white intermingle. This natural variation creates a cloud-like pattern across the body, giving the piece a lively yet harmonious presence.
Subtle speckling and granular texture emerge through the glaze, revealing the underlying clay and the dynamic effects of the firing process. The glaze gathers more densely along the rim, forming a slightly deeper, glossy band that frames the bowl and adds visual depth. Inside, the surface is smoother and softly luminous, providing an ideal backdrop for the vivid green of matcha.
Aka-Shino is a variation of Shino ware distinguished by its warm reddish tones, achieved through iron in the clay body and firing conditions. Unlike the more opaque white Shino, Aka-Shino carries a sense of warmth and vitality while still retaining the softness and subtlety prized in tea ceramics.
Presented with its original wooden tomobako, this chawan reflects both craftsmanship and tradition.
