Yōhen-kin Shino Kofuku Tea Bowl by Suzuki Tomio

Description

At the height of his power, warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598) ordered the construction of a golden tea ceremony room at Osaka Castle.  It would become a testament to his vast wealth and influence and, against the sensibilities of his appointed tea master, Sen no Rikyū, was used for political and military discussions.  Honored guests were served tea from a glittering bowl coated with pure gold.

The story of Hideyoshi's opulent tea room is the source of inspiration behind Suzuki Tomio's yōhen-kin shino.  It took nearly a decade of experimentation and refinement to create a lustrous, golden glaze while strictly adhering to traditional shino making techniques.  Although the components of the glaze remain secret, the artist will concede that no precious metal is used in the process.  Unlike Hideyoshi's gold covered tea bowl, the radiant character of yōhen-kin shino is born inside the kiln.

The results of Suzuki Tomio's efforts are proudly on display here in this splendid yōhen-kin shino kofuku tea bowl - a piece that is sure to become a matcha drinker's closely guarded treasure.

Kofuku tea bowls are made especially for outdoor tea parties.  Their smaller size makes them easier to tote around, usually in a nodate basket containing all the necessary tea utensils.  Considered to be more daily ware, kofuku bowls lack the strict formality associated with bowls for chanoyu tea ceremony.

Suzuki Tomio's shino pottery is held in private collections around the world and, in 2011, was acquired by the Philadelphia Museum of Art for display in their East Asian Art collection.

A wooden presentation box will be custom made to order and signed by the artist.  Delivery time for this item is 2 weeks.

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