Hagi Ware Matcha Bowl (Chawan) — Momiji Maple Leaves, Gold Accents, Crackle Glaze

This Hagi ware (Hagi-yaki) matcha bowl is decorated with hand-painted maple leaves (momiji) in red, yellow and green, with fine gold veining and scattered gold dust. The branches trail around the outer wall and continue just inside the rim. The mix of green leaves among the red and yellow ones captures the moment the maples turn, a classic autumn motif in the tea ceremony. That makes this a seasonal bowl for October and November, when momiji viewing (momijigari) is celebrated.

The glaze is the soft grey-white typical of Hagi, with a fine allover crackle (kan'nyū) and blushes of pink where iron in the clay reacts during firing. The small scattered pink spots are known as gohon-de, a feature prized in Hagi ware. Hagi is also known for the saying "Hagi no nanabake" (the seven transformations of Hagi). Because the clay is soft and porous, tea gradually seeps into the crackle with use, and the bowl's colour slowly deepens and changes over the years.

The shape is a rounded wan-nari form with gentle throwing ridges visible on the lower body. The base is left unglazed, showing the coarse, sandy, pale clay characteristic of Hagi. The foot ring (kōdai) is trimmed with a visible spiral, and the glaze stops at an irregular edge above it, leaving a wide band of exposed clay (tsuchi-mi). An impressed potter's or kiln seal (kama-in) sits just above the foot.

Details:

• Origin: Japan, Hagi ware (Hagi-yaki, Yamaguchi Prefecture). Stamped with an impressed potter's seal (see photos).

• Form: Rounded wan-nari chawan with visible throwing ridges and a spiral-trimmed foot ring

• Glaze: Soft grey-white glaze with fine allover crackle and natural pink blushes (gohon-de)

• Decoration: Hand-painted overglaze enamel maple leaves in red, yellow and green, with gold veining and gold dust, on the exterior and inside the rim

• Base: Unglazed foot and lower body, showing coarse, sandy, pale Hagi clay; impressed oval seal

• Seasonal theme: Autumn maples (momiji)

• Condition: Good secondhand condition. The crackle, pink spots, small pinholes and iron specks are natural features of Hagi ware. Please see photos for detail.

• Care: Hagi clay is porous. Rinse the bowl in water before use and let it dry completely afterwards to avoid staining or mildew. Hand-wash only.

• Packaging: Supplied in a paper-covered box with a printed seal-script pattern

• Dimensions: (Ø) approx. 12 cm x (H) approx. 8 cm