Experience Authentic Japanese Art with this Irabo Summer Chawan. This Japanese Hira Tea Bowl serves as a Flat Matcha Chawan and Korean Style Ceramic, featuring Ochre Brown Glaze and Artist Signed Box—a must-have for any Art Collector seeking Wabi Sabi Pottery and Summer Tea Ceremony essentials.
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🔹 [ BASIC DETAILS ]
• Artist: Kato Renpei (加藤廉平) • Technique: Irabo (Korean-style) glaze • Era: Showa-Heisei Period • Origin: Mino, Japan • Dimensions: Diameter approx. 15 cm (5.9 in), Height approx. 5.6 cm (2.2 in) • Box: Tomobako (artist-signed wooden box) • Condition: Unused or near-unused, excellent
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🔹 [ CULTURAL & ARTISTIC INSIGHT ]
The irabo glaze takes its name from the Korean word "iraubo" and represents one of the most cherished styles in Japanese tea ceremony. This hira-chawan (flat tea bowl) is specifically designed for natsu (summer) use, when the wide, shallow form allows matcha to cool more quickly.
Kato Renpei's interpretation features the characteristic ochre and iron-spotted surface that irabo is known for, with visible throwing marks that celebrate the potter's hand. The warm, earthy tones evoke sun-baked clay and the golden light of summer afternoons.
*"Like sand dunes under summer sun, the ochre surface holds warmth for the season of long light."*
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🔹 [ DEEP-DIVE COMMENTARY ]
**The Irabo Tradition**: Irabo style originated in Korea and was embraced by Japanese tea masters who valued its rustic, unpretentious beauty. The name derives from a Korean greeting, reflecting the cultural exchange along the tea route.
**Summer Bowl Purpose**: Hira-chawan are essential for summer tea gatherings (natsu-no-chaji). Their broad surface area increases contact with air, cooling the tea and creating a refreshing experience appropriate for the season.
**The Artist's Hand**: Kato Renpei's work shows clear throwing rings and intentional irregularity—hallmarks of tea ceramics that honor the maker's presence within each piece.
**Collector Significance**: A signed tomobako (共箱) confirms authenticity and artist attribution, essential for building a serious tea ware collection.
🔹 [ SHIPPING & PACKAGING ] • Dispatch: Within 1-6 business days • Carrier: Japan Post EMS / UPS (with tracking) • Packaging: Carefully wrapped with protective materials
*Broad as a summer horizon, this bowl holds coolness within warmth.*
