Korean Ceramic Chawan Ido Tea Bowl with Soba Glaze Kuroda Touen

Description

This ceramic chawan (tea bowl) was made in Korea during Joseon dynasty circa 18th to early 19th century. The bowl … more This ceramic chawan (tea bowl) was made in Korea during Joseon dynasty circa 18th to early 19th century. The bowl was of a "Small Ido" form with half-height of the typical "Big Ido" chawan therefore appears low and flat. Supported by a foot ring with the pointy Tokin in the center, the bowl has a relatively thick wall with the full mid-section tucked in around the foot ring. The surface is covered in a brown-beige glaze known as "soba" for its resemblance with the color of the buckwheat noodle. The glaze, however, changes colors, showing a gray-white tint in places accompanied by crawling and pooling effects in places. There are five spur-marks on the bottom of the interior left from the stacking in the kiln.
The bowl comes with a fabric pouch and its original tomobako with inscription by the collector. It reads "Soba Chawan" on the lid and under the lid, it was inscribed "Identified by Kuroda Touen" Year of 19377 with the collector's seal. Kuroda Touen was founded in 1935 as a ceramic art gallery and later an art salon by Ryoji Kuroda in Tokyo in association with Rosanjin Kitaoji.
Soba bowls are not mentioned in the earliest tea records. The first reference is in Matsudaira Fumai's accounts complied toward the end of Edo period. The existing number of these soba bowls appears less than other types. less