A Nezumi Shino tea bowl by Kato Mitsuemon — a Mino ware potter whose command of iron slip and feldspar glaze carries the full weight of the Shino ceramic tradition. This handmade Japanese chawan presents the distinctive Nezumi Shino palette: white Shino glaze over dark iron slip, where carved geometric patterns emerge as luminous white lines against grey. A collectible tea ceremony piece that embodies the quiet density of Mino pottery.
🔹 [ THE WORK ] The surface is a dialogue between iron and fire. Hexagonal shapes and cross patterns have been incised through the iron slip before glazing — a technique demanding precise timing and pressure. Where the iron remains, warm pinkish-red hi-iro (fire color) and reddish-orange tones blush through the glaze, evidence of the kiln's transformative breath. The rim carries a soft pinkish-orange blush. The interior holds a grey-green glaze pool flecked with iron speckles — a quiet landscape in miniature.
Compact and rounded, the bowl sits in the hand with gentle assurance. Every surface tells of controlled craft meeting unpredictable flame.
🔹 [ THE ARTIST ] Kato Mitsuemon (加藤光右衛門) works within the Mino ceramic lineage of Gifu Prefecture — the historical birthplace of Shino ware. The Kato family's roots in Mino ceramics run deep, and Mitsuemon's Nezumi Shino pieces demonstrate a mature understanding of the relationship between iron, feldspar, and fire that defines this tradition.
🔹 [ PROVENANCE & AUTHENTICATION ] • Tomobako (artist-signed wooden box) reading "鼡志野茶碗" (Nezumi Shino Tea Bowl) • Signed by Kato Mitsuemon • Cloth wrapping (共布) included
🔹 [ DIMENSIONS ] • Height: approx. 8.5 cm (3.3 in) • Width: approx. 12.5 cm (4.9 in) • Weight: approx. 454 g (1.0 lb)
🔹 [ CONDITION ] Excellent condition consistent with age. No chips, cracks, or repairs. Please examine photos carefully as they form part of the description.
🔹 [ SHIPPING & PACKAGING ] • Dispatch: Within 1-6 business days • Carrier: Japan Post EMS / UPS (with tracking) • Packaging: Carefully wrapped with protective materials
