An irabo chawan by Aoki Kunihiro, where the potter's hand is preserved in every ridge.
The throwing lines are pronounced — concentric ridges spiraling up the exterior wall, left unsmoothed, unfinished in the best sense. They catch the irabo glaze and hold it differently at each elevation: thicker in the valleys, thinner on the crests, creating a topography of tone that shifts between olive, sand, and pale earth.
Irabo glaze resists control. It is a tradition inherited from Korean potters of the Joseon period, where the beauty lay precisely in what could not be predetermined. The glaze formula is simple — feldspar, ash, iron — but the kiln decides the outcome. Temperature gradients, flame paths, and atmospheric chemistry conspire to produce surfaces that no two firings can replicate.
Aoki Kunihiro understands this partnership between maker and kiln. The throwing ridges are his contribution. The glaze response is the fire's.
The form is compact and well-proportioned — a chawan that belongs in the hands, that asks to be turned and studied. Near-mint condition speaks to careful stewardship.
■ [ DETAILS ] • Artist: Aoki Kunihiro (青木九仁博) • Origin: Japan • Dimensions: Approx. 12.5cm diameter × 7cm height • Condition: Near-mint. No chips, cracks, or hairlines • Includes: Signed tomobako, cloth wrapper, artist pamphlet
🔹 [ SHIPPING & PACKAGING ] • Dispatch: Within 1-6 business days • Carrier: Japan Post EMS / UPS (with tracking) • Packaging: Carefully wrapped with protective materials
