Kato Shuntai (加藤春岱), Japanese, (1802–1877)

A Seto Chawan (瀬戸茶碗)

Edo Era (1603–1868)

About the work

A gracefully understated Seto chawan (tea bowl) by Kato Shuntai, a significant figure bridging the late Edo and early Meiji ceramics traditions. Known for his refined craftsmanship and thoughtful engagement with symbolic motifs, Shuntai imbued his work with both subtle elegance and historical resonance.

This tea bowl exhibits a gently rounded form, modestly elevated on an unglazed foot ring. The bowl’s surface is adorned with an incised shimenawa (sacred rope) motif, subtly symbolic of Shinto purity rituals. A rich, earthy glaze envelops the vessel, accented with iron speckles and warm blushes characteristic of traditional Seto wares.

Dimensions

8cm(h) x 12cm(w)

Footnote

Kato Shuntai was born in Akatsu, Seto, in 1802. At the age of 15, he began his career at the esteemed Ofuke kiln, producing ceramics for the Owari Tokugawa family. He has also worked independently in Akatsu, Imao and Nagoya. Works from this period are now valued for their artistic quality and historical importance. Shuntai returned as an official potter for the Owari domain in 1866 and continued until the official kiln’s closure in the early Meiji era. He passed away in 1877, leaving an enduring legacy of Seto pottery bridging classical tradition and individual expression.