Blue and white Kyoto-ware chawan bearing the characters Fuku (fortune) and Ju (longevity) within a grapevine arabesque — a tea bowl for collectors drawn to染付京焼, auspicious character tea bowls, and the clean precision of Kyo-yaki underglaze blue.
[ DETAILS ] • Name: 葡萄唐草茶碗 福寿 (Budō Karakusa Chawan, Fukuju) • Dimensions: Diameter approx. 11.3 cm × H approx. 6.7 cm • Ware: Kyo-yaki (Kyoto ware), sometsuke (underglaze cobalt blue) • Decoration: 福 (Fortune) and 寿 (Longevity) characters; grape-vine arabesque scrollwork • Box: Signed artist's box (共箱) • Condition: Clean; brushwork precise; no chips • SKU: 260318_a_2519
[ CULTURAL CONTEXT ] In the tea ceremony, the choice of motif is a statement. 福寿 — fortune and longevity — are not merely decorative characters; they are the language of ceremony, the host's wish extended to the guest through the bowl held in both hands. The grapevine arabesque (budō karakusa) traveled from Central Asia along the Silk Road into Chinese ceramic tradition and arrived in Japan as a symbol of abundance — its endless, winding form suggesting continuity and vitality.
[ DEEP DIVE ] Kyoto ware (京焼) encompasses the diverse ceramic production of the Kyoto region, distinguished by its refined painterly approach over the bold, earth-grounded aesthetic of Raku or the folk character of Shigaraki. Sometsuke (underglaze blue) in Kyo-yaki achieves a particular clarity — the white body receptive to precise brushwork, the cobalt settled deep into the glaze, the overall impression one of controlled intention. A signed box confirms the maker's accountability to the object.
🔹 [ SHIPPING & PACKAGING ] • Dispatch: Within 1-6 business days • Carrier: Japan Post EMS / UPS (with tracking) • Packaging: Carefully wrapped with protective materials
