An iro-e (overglaze polychrome) tea bowl depicting autumn persimmons, by Nakamura Yoshihisa of Tofuku Kiln — presented with its original signed wooden box and biographical document.
Ripe persimmons hang from painted branches against a warm cream ground. The fruit is rendered in deep orange-red with green calyx details; the leaves turn from green to amber to rust, capturing the precise moment of seasonal fullness. The composition wraps the exterior completely, with a branch curling into the interior rim. The inside shows the artist's confident brushwork in a loose, naturalistic persimmon study. The footring is clean; no chips or cracks visible.
【 Basic Details 】 • Type: Chawan (matcha tea bowl) • Kiln: Tofuku-gama (東福窯) • Artist: Nakamura Yoshihisa (中村能久) • Motif: Iro-e persimmon (kaki no zu) • Size: Width approx. 11.5 cm / Height approx. 7.5 cm • Condition: Excellent, no chips or cracks • Provenance: Signed wooden box (tomobako) with biographical document (ryakureki-tsuki)
【 Cultural Insight 】 The persimmon holds a specific place in Japanese autumn aesthetics — its color at peak ripeness, a concentrated orange-red, was considered one of the defining visual tones of the season alongside crimson maple. In tea practice, seasonal vessels are selected with careful attention to calendar: a persimmon chawan signals the heart of autumn, used in October gatherings when the harvest imagery aligns with the mood of the tea room.
【 Deep Dive 】 Nakamura Yoshihisa of Tofuku Kiln worked in the tradition of Kyoto polychrome ware (kyo-e), painting with a naturalist's eye rather than a decorator's formula. The leaves in this piece are not identical — each occupies its own moment of turning, some more green, some fully russet. This differentiation across a single ceramic surface is evidence of careful observation translated into controlled brushwork. The accompanying biographical document adds provenance depth that elevates the piece beyond anonymous craft.
🔹 [ SHIPPING & PACKAGING ] • Dispatch: Within 1-6 business days • Carrier: Japan Post EMS / UPS (with tracking) • Packaging: Carefully wrapped with protective materials
