Mini Chawan — Iron Glaze with White Panels, Folded Rim

This small tea bowl (mini chawan) pairs a dark olive-brown iron glaze with broad, brushed panels of crackled white glaze. The white sits in soft cloud-like patches across the body, catching the strong throwing ridges so that light and dark alternate in horizontal bands. Fine iron specks show through the white, and a delicate crackle runs across it.

The most distinctive feature is the rim: in several places the wall has been cut and folded over itself, leaving vertical overlapping seams that run from the lip down the body. This deliberate intervention breaks the regularity of the wheel-thrown form and gives the bowl a sculptural, hand-altered character. Inside, the dark glaze turns a cool blue-grey in the well, where the throwing rings spiral down to the centre.

At around 11cm across, it is smaller than a standard chawan (usually 12–13cm). Bowls of this size suit outdoor tea (nodate) and travel tea sets, as well as single servings of usucha or everyday use as a small matcha bowl.

The form is compact and straight-sided with a rounded base, set on a neatly trimmed foot left unglazed to show dark reddish-brown clay.

Details:

• Origin: Japan; kiln/artist unconfirmed

• Size: Mini chawan, compact and easy to hold

• Form: Straight-sided bowl, cut-and-folded rim seams, pronounced throwing ridges

• Glaze: Dark iron glaze with brushed white panels, fine crackle; blue-grey interior well

• Foot: Unglazed, trimmed, dark reddish-brown clay

• Condition: Good secondhand condition — please see photos for any marks

• Dimensions: (Diam.) approx. 9.5cm x (H) approx. 6.5cm