A Bizen Ash Glazed Chawan (備前灰釉茶碗)

Showa Era (1926-1989), Heisei Era (1989-2019) or Reiwa Era (2019-present)

About the work

An expressive Bizen tea bowl (chawan) by Japanese ceramic artist Junzo Haga, also associated with the name Shōhōan (少芳庵). Of particular interest is its connection to the celebrated Bizen master Mori Togaku (森陶岳, born 1937). According to the inscription on its accompanying wooden box, the bowl was fired for seven days in Mori Togaku's anagama kiln, providing an important link between the work and one of the most influential figures in contemporary Bizen ceramics.

The bowl has a robust, gently oval form, with substantial walls rising from a small foot to an irregular, softly undulating rim. Its richly textured surface displays an interplay of reddish brown clay, muted grey ash deposits and olive green glaze. Areas of natural ash glaze have melted across the exterior, creating flowing patterns and subtle variations in colour, while incised geometric decoration introduces a contrasting element of deliberate craftsmanship.

The seven day firing is particularly significant in understanding the bowl's distinctive appearance. Mori Togaku is renowned for his extensive research into the large wood fired kilns of medieval Bizen, seeking to recreate the firing conditions responsible for the remarkable surfaces of historic Bizen pottery. His experiments culminated in the construction of monumental kilns, including the 53 metre Sabukaze Great Kiln and the later 85 metre Sabukaze New Great Kiln. Through prolonged firing and careful management of flame, ash and temperature, Togaku explored the natural transformations of clay that characterise traditional Bizen ware.

The underside bears the artist's impressed mark. The bowl is accompanied by its wooden box, inscribed 備前森陶岳君の穴窯にて七日間焼成, meaning Fired for seven days in the Bizen anagama kiln of Mori Togaku, together with 少芳庵羽賀順蔵作, identifying the work as made by Junzo Haga.

Dimensions

10cm(h) x 14cm(w) x 11cm(d)

Footnote

Junzo Haga (羽賀順蔵) was a Japanese author, literary researcher, and tea culture expert who lived during the Showa period (1926–1989). He spent decades preserving, evaluating, and documenting Japanese classical art, zen calligraphy, and tea utensils.
In the antique and tea ceremony (chado) communities, he is highly recognized by his master pseudonym, Shohoan (少芳庵).

Junzo Haga was a highly trusted authority in the Japanese tea ceremony and antique community. He evaluated premium ceramics like Raku tea bowls, authenticating them by writing signatures and poetic titles directly onto their wooden storage boxes (hakogaki). Because of his strict standards and beautiful calligraphy, items authenticated by him remain highly valuable at art auctions today.

Operating under the tea pseudonym Shoan (少芳庵), Haga was a highly active chajin (tea master). He wrote books and articles regarding modern tea gatherings, theme creation, and utensil selection, including The Reality of Tea Ceremony Themes and Utensil Combinations (茶の湯のテーマと道具取合せの実際) published in 1967.

國家

語言

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茶具

Kato Toyohisa (加藤豊久), Japanese, b. 1962

Kato Toyohisa (加藤豊久), Japanese, b. 1962

Yukito Nishinaka (西中千人), Japanese, b. 1964

Yukito Nishinaka (西中千人), Japanese, b. 1964

Masafumi Yamaguchi (山口正文), Japanese (1941–2018)

Masafumi Yamaguchi (山口正文), Japanese (1941–2018)

Masafumi Yamaguchi (山口正文), Japanese (1941–2018)

Masafumi Yamaguchi (山口正文), Japanese (1941–2018)

Tatsuzo Shimaoka (島岡達三), Japanese (1919–2007)

Tatsuzo Shimaoka (島岡達三), Japanese (1919–2007)

Tatsuzo Shimaoka (島岡達三), Japanese (1919–2007)

Tatsuzo Shimaoka (島岡達三), Japanese (1919–2007)

Ayukai Kōgetsu (鮎貝晄月), Japanese

Ayukai Kōgetsu (鮎貝晄月), Japanese

Ayukai Kōgetsu (鮎貝晄月), Japanese

Ayukai Kōgetsu (鮎貝晄月), Japanese

Murata Jukō (Tetsuo) (村田珠光(哲夫)), Japanese, b. 1922

Murata Jukō (Tetsuo) (村田珠光(哲夫)), Japanese, b. 1922

Murata Jukō (Tetsuo) (村田珠光(哲夫)), Japanese, b. 1922

Murata Jukō (Tetsuo) (村田珠光(哲夫)), Japanese, b. 1922

Murata Jukō (Tetsuo) (村田珠光(哲夫)), Japanese, b. 1922

Murata Jukō (Tetsuo) (村田珠光(哲夫)), Japanese, b. 1922

Murata Jukō (Tetsuo) (村田珠光(哲夫)), Japanese, b. 1922

Murata Jukō (Tetsuo) (村田珠光(哲夫)), Japanese, b. 1922

Murata Jukō (Tetsuo) (村田珠光(哲夫)), Japanese, b. 1922

Murata Jukō (Tetsuo) (村田珠光(哲夫)), Japanese, b. 1922

Yamamoto Tōshū (山本陶秀), Japanese, 1906 - 1994

Yamamoto Tōshū (山本陶秀), Japanese, 1906 - 1994

Mori Togaku (森陶岳), Japanese, b.1937

Mori Togaku (森陶岳), Japanese, b.1937

Ken Matsuzaki (松崎建), Japanese (b. 1950)

Ken Matsuzaki (松崎建), Japanese (b. 1950)

Junzo Haga (羽賀順蔵), Japanese, 1926-1989

Junzo Haga (羽賀順蔵), Japanese, 1926-1989

Kato Seizo (加藤清三), Japanese (1930-1979)

Kato Seizo (加藤清三), Japanese (1930-1979)

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