Kutani Ware Matcha Bowl (Chawan) — "Ayame" Iris Motif, Gold Ground, Signed, Wooden Box

This signed Kutani ware (Kutani-yaki) matcha bowl is decorated with a band of stylised irises in cobalt blue and white, rising from tall, sword-shaped leaves in deep green. Above the flowers, a band of gold (kinji) covers the upper wall, its lower edge cut into points that dip down between the blossoms like a gilded sky. Small green buds are dotted along the gold edge. The design is bold and graphic, with a modern, almost Art Nouveau feel, while staying rooted in a classic Japanese seasonal subject.

The design is known as ayame (菖蒲, iris), an established Kutani pattern for tea bowls. Irises bloom in early summer (May–June) and are closely tied to Tango no Sekku (5 May), when shōbu leaves are traditionally added to the bath. The word shōbu also sounds like 尚武, "respect for martial spirit", which made the iris an auspicious flower for the festival. That makes this a seasonal bowl for late spring and early summer tea gatherings.

Kutani ware, from Ishikawa Prefecture, is known for its rich overglaze enamels and generous use of gold. This bowl shows those qualities well. The green is thick and glassy, pooling darkly towards the base, while the blue and white petals are raised slightly in enamel and show a fine crackle. The interior is left in a plain ivory crackle glaze, which will show off the green of the tea.

The shape is a rounded wan-nari form with gently upright walls. The foot is unglazed, pale and neatly trimmed in a stepped profile, and the base carries a hand-written red overglaze signature (kakiban).

The bowl comes in its wooden storage box (tomobako), wrapped in the traditional turmeric-dyed yellow cotton cloth (ukon-nuno) used to protect fine ceramics.

Details:

• Origin: Japan, Kutani ware (Kutani-yaki, Ishikawa Prefecture). Signed in red on the base.

• Form: Rounded wan-nari chawan with gently upright walls and a stepped, trimmed foot ring

• Glaze: Thick, glassy green enamel on the lower body; ivory crackle glaze on the interior

• Decoration: Stylised irises in raised cobalt-blue and white enamel with green sword-shaped leaves, below a band of overglaze gold (kinji) with pointed edges

• Base: Unglazed pale foot, hand-written red signature

• Seasonal theme: Iris / early summer (May–June)

• Condition: Good secondhand condition. The crackle in the enamels and glaze is a natural feature of the firing. Please see photos for detail. Gold overglaze can wear with rubbing, so hand-wash gently.

• Packaging: Wooden storage box (tomobako) with yellow ukon cloth wrapping

• Dimensions: (Ø) 11 cm x (H) 7.2cm