Hagi Ware Tea Bowl by Hatano Zenzo - Prefectural Intangible Cultural Asset with Certificate

Experience Authentic Japan Art with this Hagi Ware Tea Bowl. This Japanese Matcha Chawan serves as a Hatano Zenzo Masterpiece and Cultural Heritage Ceramic, featuring Gohonte Red Spots aesthetics and Living National Treasure style—a must-have for any Art Collector seeking Museum Quality Pottery and Traditional Craft Art.

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🔹 [ BASIC DETAILS ]

• Artist: Hatano Zenzo (波多野善蔵) - Yamaguchi Prefecture Designated Intangible Cultural Asset Holder
• Technique: White Hagi glaze with gohonte (御本手) red spots
• Era: Contemporary (Showa–Heisei period)
• Origin: Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan (Tsukigama/月窯)
• Dimensions: Height approx. 9 cm, Diameter approx. 14.3 cm
• Box: Signed tomobako with cloth, certificate, and "Zen" (善) seal on foot
• Condition: Excellent, from private collection

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🔹 [ CULTURAL & ARTISTIC INSIGHT ]

Hatano Zenzo stands among the most celebrated Hagi potters of the modern era, recognized as a Yamaguchi Prefecture Designated Intangible Cultural Asset holder—a designation reserved for masters who embody the highest standards of traditional craftsmanship. His works are held in museums and prestigious collections throughout Japan.

This tea bowl showcases the distinctive "gohonte" (御本手) effect—soft red spots that emerge naturally during firing, resembling blossoms scattered across snow. This phenomenon, named after Korean tea bowls ordered by Japanese feudal lords ("gohonjitate"), represents one of the most prized characteristics in Hagi ware.

*"Where flame kisses clay, crimson blooms appear—each spot a gift from the kiln's mysterious heart."*

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🔹 [ DEEP-DIVE COMMENTARY ]

**Master Craftsman Status**: Hatano Zenzo's designation as a Prefectural Intangible Cultural Asset holder places him in the highest tier of Japanese ceramic artists. This recognition acknowledges both technical mastery and contribution to preserving traditional Hagi techniques for future generations.

**The Gohonte Phenomenon**: The red spots characteristic of gohonte ware result from iron particles in the clay oxidizing during the firing process. The placement and intensity of these spots cannot be fully controlled, making each piece unique. Tea masters prize gohonte bowls for their resemblance to plum blossoms on snow.

**Collector Significance**: Works by designated cultural asset holders command premium positions in collections. This piece includes complete provenance documentation: signed box, cloth wrapper, and certificate—essential elements for serious collectors and museum acquisitions.

**The Tsukigama Legacy**: Hatano Zenzo's Tsukigama (Moon Kiln) has produced generations of exceptional Hagi ware. The refined white glaze characteristic of this kiln provides the perfect canvas for the subtle gohonte effects that define the master's work.

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🔹 [ 日本語解説 ]

【基本情報】
• 作家：波多野善蔵（山口県指定無形文化財保持者）
• 技法：白萩釉・御本手
• 時代：現代（昭和〜平成）
• 産地：山口県萩（月窯）
• 寸法：高さ約9cm、口径約14.3cm
• 付属：共箱・共布・栞、高台脇に「善」印
• 状態：良好（コレクター放出品）

【解説】
波多野善蔵は山口県指定無形文化財保持者として、萩焼の最高峰に位置する作家です。その作品は美術館や著名なコレクションに収蔵されています。

本作は「御本手」と呼ばれる赤い斑点が白萩釉の上に浮かぶ景色を見せます。御本手は焼成中に土中の鉄分が酸化して現れる現象で、雪上に散る梅花に喩えられ、茶人に珍重されてきました。

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🔹 [ SHIPPING & PACKAGING ]
• Dispatch: Within 1-6 business days
• Carrier: Japan Post EMS / UPS (with tracking)
• Packaging: Carefully wrapped with protective materials

*A master's hands, a kiln's breath, and time's blessing unite—this bowl carries the weight of cultural treasure.*