Tanba black matcha tea bowl by Shinsui Ichino

Tanba black glaze tea bowl - Shinsui Ichino

The deep luster of the black glaze

The black glaze applied to this piece is a lustrous jet black, born from the iron-rich clay of Tamba and the reducing flames of a climbing kiln. When light hits it, subtle greens and browns flicker within the black, softly reflecting the light of the lanterns and candles in the tea room. The golden flecks scattered across the surface are a pattern known as "goma" (sesame seeds), created when ash melts during firing, and they add a touch of stardust to the quiet black.

A refined design that embodies wabi

The slightly taut waist and slightly inward-curved rim create a silhouette resembling that of a cylindrical tea bowl, calculated to allow the tea to rise richly during the tea ceremony. After being shaped on a potter's wheel, the bowl is gently pressed with the fingers to create gentle irregularities that give rhythm to the body and prevent the black glaze, which has a large amount of white space, from appearing monotonous. The mouth is slightly angular on all four sides, leaving a soft, irregular shape, giving it a simple appearance reminiscent of Rikyu's wabi-cha tea.

The "Tamba style" created by rough earth and fire

The coarse clay peeking out from the side of the foot is the epitome of rustic charm, achieved by using Tanba mountain soil, which contains granite, with almost no refinement. The thick base, which remains uncarved, provides solid support for the vessel, enhancing stability when brewing matcha. The firing is carried out in a climbing kiln where firewood is continuously burned for more than three days and nights, and the flow of the flames and the falling of the ash create a unique appearance that differs from piece to piece.

The skills and aesthetic sense of the second generation Ichino Shinsui

Shinsui Ichino has added his own unique sensibility to the potter's wheel techniques inherited from the founder, and has explored the possibilities of the "black glaze" that is rare in the ancient Tamba kilns. By adjusting the amount of iron and delicately controlling the firing atmosphere, he has given the black glaze, which tends to be heavy, a sense of transparency and depth, achieving a refined look that stands out even in modern tea ceremonies.

Functional beauty that stands out at tea ceremonies

Matcha color : The jet-black glaze surface brings out the vivid green of the brewed matcha, delighting the eyes of your guests.

Easy to hold : The uneven surface of the bowl provides a comfortable grip for your fingers, allowing you to lift even hot bowls steadily.

Suitable for all seasons : The cylindrical shape provides excellent heat retention, making it ideal for the hearth season. It has the capacity to be used for both thin and thick tea.

For long-term use

If you rinse it lightly with water before use, the tea stains will soak in evenly and create a beautiful appearance.

After use, wash gently with lukewarm water, wipe dry with a soft cloth and dry in the shade.

The gloss of the black glaze becomes more subdued with use, and the gold color of the sesame seeds becomes more prominent. The change over time is the real pleasure of this piece.

This Tanba black glaze tea bowl by Ichino Shinsui seems to capture the twinkling of stars in its deep jet black. Combining rustic charm with refinement, this bowl will bring a quiet sense of tension and warmth to your tea ceremony, transforming your daily tea time into an exceptional moment. We hope you will treasure it for many years to come, and enjoy the beauty of its refined beauty that deepens with time.

History of pottery making

• 1957: Born in Tachikui, Tanba as the eldest son of the founder Shinsui
• 1980: Started making pottery in Tamba Tachikui, selected for the Prefectural Exhibition
• 1983: Received the Cultural Association Award at the Prefectural Crafts and Arts Exhibition
• 1984: Received the Association Award at the Prefectural Crafts and Arts Exhibition and became a member of the Prefectural Crafts and Arts Artists Association.
• 1985: Selected for the All Kansai Art Exhibition
• 1986: Selected for the Japan Crafts Association Kinki Exhibition
• 1989: Selected for the Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition, Osaka Takashimaya Two-Person Exhibition, Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition for the first time, Toyota Sogo Three-Person Exhibition
• 1990: Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition
• 1991: Selected for the Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition, Osaka Takashimaya Two-Person Exhibition, Prefectural Crafts and Arts Exhibition, Kobe Shimbun Grand Prize
• 1992: Selected for the Ikebukuro Seibu Horaikai Exhibition, the Tea Ceremony Forms Exhibition, and the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition
• 1993: Selected for the Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition, Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Certified as a full member of the Japan Crafts Association, Received the Kobe Shimbun Grand Prize at the Prefectural Crafts and Arts Exhibition
• 1995: Solo exhibition at Osaka Takashimaya, selected for the Tea Ceremony Design Exhibition, selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition
• 1996: Selected for Gallery Kurimoto solo exhibition and Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition
• 1997: Solo exhibition at Osaka Takashimaya, selected for the Tea Ceremony Design Exhibition, solo exhibition at Mito Keisei Department Store, solo exhibition at Gallery Eikosha
• 1998: Solo exhibition at Gallery Kurimoto, selected for the Exhibition of Tea Ceremony Designs, solo exhibition at Daikokuya, solo exhibition at Osaka Takashimaya
• 1999: Selected for the Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition, Solo Exhibition at Toyota Sogo
• 2000: Selected for the Tea Ceremony Design Exhibition
• 2001: Selected for the Tea Ceremony Design Exhibition, and the 16th Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition "Tanba Tea Caddy"
• 2002: Changed his name from Katsuaki to the second generation "Ichino Shinsui", was selected for the Exhibition of Tea Ceremony Forms, and held the Ichino Shinsui Succession Exhibition at Osaka Takashimaya and JR Nagoya Takashimaya
• 2003: Selected for the Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition, Japanese Ceramic Art Exhibition, Japanese Traditional Crafts Exhibition, solo exhibition at Yonago Takashimaya, Gallery Momoyama, and Kobe Daimaru
• 2004: Solo exhibition at Houeidou, solo exhibition at JR Nagoya Takashimaya
• 2005: Selected for the Tea Ceremony Art Exhibition, Selected for the Japanese Ceramic Art Exhibition, Solo exhibition at Gallery Kurimoto, Solo exhibition at Kyoto Takashimaya
• 2006: Solo exhibition at Yonago Takashimaya, Osaka Takashimaya, Shimonoseki Daimaru, Gallery Tsuboya
• 2007: Exhibited ceramics from Hyogo, selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, solo exhibition at JR Nagoya Takashimaya
• 2008: Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition, Gallery Kurimoto solo exhibition
• 2009: Solo exhibition at Osaka Takashimaya, solo exhibition at Yonago Takashimaya
• 2011: Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition
• 2014: Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition
• 2015: Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition, and the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition
• 2016: Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Kinki Exhibition, and the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition
• 2017: Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition
• 2018: Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition
• 2022: Selected for the Japan Traditional Crafts Exhibition