Saka Koraizaemon XIII (十三代 坂高麗左衛門), Japanese, 1952–2014

A Set of Three Hagi-yaki Hime Chawan (萩焼姫茶碗三点セット)

Showa Era (1926-1989) or Heisei Era (1989-2019)

About the work

A charming set of three hime chawan (small tea bowls) by the 13th Generation Saka
Koraizaemon, one of the most significant figures in the long and celebrated Hagi ware
tradition. Each bowl displays a gently rounded form with subtle variations in shape
and decoration, embodying the natural elegance and understated beauty for which
Hagi ceramics are renowned.

The bowls are covered in soft, luminous glazes ranging from warm ivory and pale
pink to delicate peach tones, creating a harmonious ensemble that reflects the quiet
aesthetic of the tea ceremony. Hand-painted decorative motifs adorn the exterior
surfaces, including seasonal maple leaves and abstract circular forms suggestive of
the moon, lending each vessel its own individual character while maintaining a unified
visual balance. Fine crazing (kannyū) develops naturally within the glaze, a prized
characteristic of Hagi ware that deepens with use and appreciation over time.

The set is accompanied by its original signed wooden storage box (tomobako) and
protective cloth.

Dimensions

6.6cm(h) x 10.6cm(w)

Footnote

Saka Koraizaemon XIII (十三代 坂高麗左衛門, 1952–2014), born Junko Saka, was the first woman in the more than 400-year history of the Saka kiln to inherit the prestigious Koraizaemon title. The Saka family traces its origins to the Korean potter Yi Kyŏng, who was brought to Hagi in the early seventeenth century and helped establish the Hagi ware tradition. A graduate of Musashino Art University, she worked closely with the 12th Generation Saka Koraizaemon before formally succeeding to the title in 2011. Her accession marked a historic milestone for one of Japan's most important ceramic lineages. Although her tenure was brief, ending with her death in 2014, her works remain highly significant as examples of both the enduring Hagi tradition and a unique chapter in the history of the Saka family kiln.