Ayukai Kōgetsu (鮎貝晄月), Japanese

An Ariso Tea Bowl (荒磯平茶垸)

Shōwa Era (1926–1989) or Heisei Era (1989–2019)

About the work

An expressive Ariso tea bowl (chawan) by Japanese ceramic artist Ayukai Kōgetsu, displaying a broad, open form and a richly textured glaze. Its pale grey and greenish tones contrast with darker brown passages around the foot, giving the bowl a quietly distinctive presence.

The bowl has gently rounded sides that flare towards a wide, slightly irregular rim. A compact circular foot supports the expansive body, creating a balanced silhouette. Subtle variations in its contours emphasise the handmade character of the vessel, while the open profile allows the interior glaze to be appreciated.

The exterior is covered in a pale grey glaze marked by a pronounced network of dark crackle lines. These form an intricate pattern across the curved surface, becoming particularly prominent around the lower body. Darker glaze gathers above and around the foot, contrasting with the lighter upper section.

Inside, soft greenish-grey passages mingle with cloudy white areas and irregular pools of glaze. The changing colours and textures suggest powerful wave-like glazes, thus named Ariso, meaning “rough” or “rocky shore”. The interplay between its expansive form and finely varied surface gives the bowl visual interest from both within and without.

Accompanied by its original wooden box.

Dimensions

6.3cm(h) x 15cm(w)

Footnote

Ayukai Kōgetsu (鮎貝晄月), whose given name is Mitsuko (光子), is a Japanese ceramic artist and calligrapher from Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture. After graduating from Chūō University, she studied calligraphy under Ono Senshū and participated in several calligraphy exhibitions. In 1976, she encountered the Oni-Shino potter Tsukigata Nahiko, subsequently studying ceramics, painting and sculpture at his workshop between 1979 and 1987. Her accompanying biography records that she established a kiln in Gifu Prefecture in 1985 and adopted the studio name Kaichōkyo (海潮居). That year, she held a solo exhibition at Marumitsu Department Store in Kesennuma, followed by exhibitions at department stores elsewhere. Her practice encompasses both the expressive surfaces of Ariso ceramics and the brushwork of calligraphy.