Mashiko Ware: Indigo Iron Salt Glaze Carved Tea Bowl (Wan-nari)

The variations in the carved patterns of the rich indigo color create a deep and nuanced landscape, while the flavor of salt and the scorching taste of pine fire are imbued in the interior view. The tea bowl is a piece with many highlights, including the external shape, the carving on the raised base, and the changes in the inner prospects. Tea bowls have held a special status as vessels in Japan since ancient times, serving as the centerpiece of the Japanese tea ceremony.
Within the interior of a tea bowl lies an infinite universe. In the Momoyama period, Nobunaga Oda is said to have prepared a famous bowl as a reward for a meritorious warrior, stating, “This tea bowl is worth as much as a castle in one province; accept it gratefully.” This anecdote implies that a tea bowl holds a value equivalent to a country or castle; therefore, it is not surprising that it commands a special price.

藍塩釉鎬茶碗（益子焼）椀形