Katakuchi Matcha Bowl — Amber and Green Split Glaze, Blue Opalescence, Impressed Seal

This spouted matcha bowl (katakuchi) is decorated with two contrasting glazes, a warm amber-brown and a deep forest green, each applied to one half of the bowl. This technique is called kakewake (divided glazing). The glazes meet in a soft, uneven boundary that runs down the inside and over the rim onto the exterior, so the bowl looks quite different depending on which side faces the drinker.

Where the amber glaze pools and overlaps with the green, especially around the spout and near the foot, it breaks into a milky blue-violet opalescence. This effect resembles the namako (sea cucumber) glazes found in several Japanese kilns and forms when glaze layers interact in the firing. The green half is speckled with small pale spots. Throughout the amber glaze a fine crackle is visible, and faint spiral throwing marks show through in the well.

The body is wheel-thrown and then gently reshaped by hand, giving a softly lobed, undulating rim. The spout is formed by hand and joined to the rim, with a small opening pierced through the wall inside the bowl so the tea pours cleanly. On the exterior, the glazes thin to muted mauve, grey-green and rust tones over the iron-rich clay, with brushy marks from the glazing. The foot is neatly trimmed, with the rim of the foot left unglazed to show the warm reddish clay.

Details:

• Origin: Japanese studio pottery (kiln/maker unconfirmed; impressed potter's seal on the base. Let me know if you know the kiln or have a box)

• Form: Spouted matcha bowl (katakuchi), rounded body with softly lobed rim and hand-formed spout

• Clay: Iron-rich reddish stoneware, visible at the foot rim

• Glaze: Divided amber-brown and green glazes (kakewake), with blue-violet opalescence where they pool and overlap; fine crackle in the amber glaze

• Decoration: No applied motif; character comes from the glaze interplay and the hand-shaped form

• Base: Trimmed foot with unglazed rim; glazed centre with impressed seal

• Condition: Good secondhand condition. Small pale spots in the green glaze and a few tiny iron specks at the rim are part of the firing. Please see photos for any chips or wear

• Quantity: Single bowl only. The chasen (bamboo whisk) is shown for scale and styling and is not included

• Dimensions: (Ø) 15cm (excluding spout) x (H) approx. 7cm