Late 20th Century Glazed Ceramic Tea Bowl with Abstract Strokes by Toshiko Takaezu

Description

A glazed ceramic tea bowl (chawan) by Japanese American artist Toshiko Takaezu (American, 1922 - 2011). The well-balanced form is … more A glazed ceramic tea bowl (chawan) by Japanese American artist Toshiko Takaezu (American, 1922 - 2011). The well-balanced form is hand built and shows slight irregularity, further accentuated with wheel grooves circumventing the exterior. The surface background is covered with a greyish white glaze. On top, the artist applied a complex color decoration. A bold stroke of a deep blue was painted across the exterior, echoed by three additional blue strokes in the interior. On top of this, patches of cream and brown colors were overlaid which resulted in a fusion with the blue color that created a more complex imagery. The decoration is visually striking with a strong sense of Zen in its abstraction. A very attractive piece for meditation.
The artist's work was heavily influenced by the Japanese ceramic tradition and aesthetics. The bowl is signed with the artist's cypher on the underside. less