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Kuro (black) tea bowl, "Made in Nippon" ca 1891-1921

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    Posted 3 years ago

    kwqd
    (1185 items)

    This bowl is about 5.75" in diameter x 2" high and weighs just under 11 ounces. It has the feel and sound of some American raku fired pottery, a hollow metallic sound when tapped. Some white inclusions in the clay are visible inside and on the bottom. There is an incised design and some gold toning in a few places on the exterior surface. Marked only "MADE IN NIPPON" on the bottom, so probably imported into the U.S. circa 1891-1921. Probably made in the style of a tea bowl but thrown on a wheel not formed by hand as is traditional and meant to be purely decorative.

    I do not know the correct name for this type of Japanese pottery. I originally, thought it raku, based on some American raku pieces in my collection but after some reading, I realized that the definitions of raku ware in Japan and America are very different. Japanese raku ware is not pure black and is always hand made, not thrown on a wheel. I am calling this kuro ware, but not sure if it is of the style called kuro-raku. I have another, similar piece, also marked Nippon in my collection. If anyone knows what this pottery is called, I would welcome your input.

    Possibly tokanabe ware? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokanabe I have a large tokanabe vase and it feels and sounds different than this bowl. Confused.

    https://www.soulceramics.com/pages/raku-firing
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raku_ware

    I managed to donate half a dozen paintings from my collection to a thrift shop today and almost got away without buying anything until I found this bowl and a really nice vintage Willett Marblehead solid cherry nightstand for a total of $21. The nightstand is circa 1950s and in nice shape. May post it later at my new house.

    I found what is possibly a similar piece by the same maker on ebay:

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/125014115188?hash=item1d1b6c0374:g:dDQAAOSw~M9hmtTr

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    Comments

    1. Newfld Newfld, 3 years ago
      Beautiful bowl with lovely incised pattern
    2. kwqd kwqd, 3 years ago
      Thanks for your comment, Jenni. It was a nice surprise to find this at the local Goodwill!
    3. jscott0363 jscott0363, 3 years ago
      Beautiful Raku bowl!! I love the design around the rim.
    4. kwqd kwqd, 3 years ago
      Thanks for your comment jscott0363! I was very surprised when I found it. It has an understated beauty. It took several minutes before the quality the craft sunk into my senior brain.

      Thanks for loving my raku bowl Vynil33rpm, Kevin and jscott0363!
    5. kwqd kwqd, 3 years ago
      Thanks dav2no1!
    6. kwqd kwqd, 3 years ago
      Thanks for loving my raku bowl vcal!
    7. kwqd kwqd, 3 years ago
      Thanks for taking a look at my raku bowl fortapache and PhilDMorris! It reminds me a bit of some of my Hopi pottery.
    8. kwqd kwqd, 3 years ago
      Thank you, Ben!
    9. kwqd kwqd, 3 years ago
      Thanks blunderbuss2!
    10. kwqd kwqd, 3 years ago
      Thank you Alfie21!
    11. kwqd kwqd, 3 years ago
      Thanks valentino97!
    12. kwqd kwqd, 3 years ago
      Thanks rancherswife and Blammoammo!
    13. racer4four racer4four, 3 years ago
      This is so subtle and beautiful Kevin, and a great age. Well found!
      I would love to eat some rice from it.
    14. kwqd kwqd, 3 years ago
      Thanks Karen! It was a surprising find at a local thrift shop. I think it is probably a tea bowl, not a rice bowl. Actually, just patterned after a tea bowl and meant only to be decorative since it was made for export.
    15. kwqd kwqd, 3 years ago
      Thanks rancherswife!
    16. kwqd kwqd, 3 years ago
      Thank you aura!

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