Seasonal Chawan Tea Bowl for Hinamatsuri — Emperor and Empress Dolls with Peach Blossoms, Enamel and Gold

This matcha bowl is made for Hinamatsuri (雛祭り), the Doll Festival or Girls' Day held on 3 March. Families display hina dolls to wish for their daughters' health and happiness, and tea gatherings around the festival often feature bowls like this one.

The bowl shows the two most important figures of the doll display, the Emperor and Empress dolls (Odairi-sama and Ohina-sama). The Emperor wears a deep blue court robe patterned in gold with turquoise trousers, a tall black court cap, and holds a ceremonial baton (shaku). The Empress wears layered red robes with white blossom crests, a gold crown, and holds a folding fan (hiōgi). Both are drawn in the simplified, rounded style of classic hina dolls, with serene painted faces.

Between the dolls hang sprays of pink peach blossoms and buds with green leaves, outlined in gold. The peach is the festival's own flower, since Hinamatsuri is also called Momo no Sekku, the Peach Festival. Peach blossoms have long been associated with warding off evil and with good health, which is why they belong on the doll stand.

Details:

• Origin: Japan (kiln unconfirmed; the enamel and gold painting follows the Kyoto iro-e tradition)

• Type: Seasonal tea bowl for Hinamatsuri (3 March)

• Maker: Impressed potter's seal (unread)

• Form: Rounded matcha bowl with gently flaring walls

• Glaze: Warm off-white glaze with iron specks, pink blush in the well, kiln flashing near the foot

• Decoration: Raised overglaze enamel and gold. The Emperor and Empress hina dolls stand among hanging peach blossom sprays.

• Base: Unglazed reddish-brown foot rim, impressed seal on the lower wall

• Box: Paper-covered presentation box with fitted insert

• Condition: Good vintage/secondhand condition. Fine pinholes in the glaze and enamels and kiln flashing near the foot are firing characteristics. Please see photos for any wear.

• Dimensions: (D) approx. 12.8 cm x (H) approx. 8.3 cm