Narumi Oribe chawan, handmade in Seto, Japan, where Oribe ware has been produced for centuries.
The bowl brings together one of the most expressive combinations found in the Oribe tradition: warm red-orange clay contrasted by a deep, jewel-like green glaze. Applied generously around one side of the rim, the Oribe glaze gathers and runs downward in irregular drips, shifting from nearly black at its deepest points to flashes of emerald, turquoise and blue-green.
Across the warmer body of the bowl, hand-drawn motifs appear almost spontaneously—spirals, grids and wandering lines rendered against pale areas of slip. Rather than following a perfectly symmetrical form, the rim rises and falls gently, giving the chawan a distinctly sculptural character and changing its silhouette as it is turned in the hands.
The bowl was gas-fired, giving the potter greater control over the kiln atmosphere while still allowing the glaze to move naturally during firing. The resulting variations—the pooling glaze, fine surface changes, irregular edges and visible marks of making—are integral to the character of the piece.
Narumi Oribe is celebrated for precisely this kind of contrast: expressive decoration, asymmetrical forms and the juxtaposition of warm earthen tones with intensely colored Oribe glaze. What initially appears rustic becomes remarkably sophisticated upon closer inspection.
Made as a functional chawan for preparing and drinking matcha, the broad interior provides room for whisking while the irregular form encourages the bowl to be turned and appreciated from different perspectives.
A singular piece of Japanese ceramic craft—bold, imperfect and meant to be used.
Presented in its own custom wooden box with handwritten calligraphy and seal, this is a chawan made not only to be used, but to be kept.
Details: Handmade in Seto, Japan · Narumi Oribe ware · Gas-fired · Hand-decorated · Chawan / matcha tea bowl · One of a kind
- Dim.: Approx. 5" x 5.75" x 3.25"
