Raku Kichizaemon XII Kōnyū (楽吉左衛門十二代 弘入), Japanese (1857-1932)

A White Raku Ware Tea Bowl (Chawan)

Meiji (1868-1912) or Taisho era (1912-1926)

About the work

A finely hand-shaped white Raku tea bowl crafted by the 12th-generation Raku Kichizaemon, featuring a soft, creamy white glaze with subtle natural variations typical of Raku ware. The foot is unglazed, with the Raku seal impressed adjacent to the foot-ring, showcasing the traditional aesthetic. Housed in its original signed wooden storage box (tomobako), the box is further authenticated by the 13th-generation Raku Kichizaemon (Seinyū).

Dimensions

14.5 cm x 6.4 cm

Footnote

Raku Kōnyū, born as the eldest son of Keinyū, became the 12th generation Raku master in 1871. His work is noted for its restrained style, featuring distinctive red Raku glazes.

The "8-Raku" Seal: The chawan has Konyu's distinctive "Hachiraku-in" (8-Raku seal) impressed into the clay next to the foot-ring. This seal is a primary identification mark for Konyu; it is named because the left side of the "Raku" character (楽) is written to resemble the Arabic numeral "8".

Technical Rarity of White Raku: Unlike traditional Black or Red Raku, White Raku is quite rare because it requires the complete removal of iron and other coloring components from the glaze. It is technically difficult to produce because the white glaze often becomes transparent if the kiln temperature rises too high, requiring "meticulous management" of firing time to achieve the creamy, opaque finish.