*SHIPPING OPTIONS VARY DEPENDING ON THE DESTINATION, PLEASE SCROLL TO THE END OF THIS LISTING FOR MORE DETAILS.

This listing is for a Kishu-ware chawan made around 20-30 years ago by Aoi Gama.  It is wheel-thrown and both the front and back are decorated with acorns and pine needles.  The traces of red slip add warmth to the bowl and makes it’s an ideal piece for the cooler months.  The stamp of the kiln can be found on the bottom, and it comes with its original signed wooden storage box.  It also comes with a white wrapping cloth for when the item is not in use.  *PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CHASEN TEA WHISK IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS LISTING.

Aoi Gama was established in 1932 by Samukawa Seiho I. Samukawa studied under Kyo-ware potter Sawada Sozan, and spent five years in Aichi Prefecture as chief manager of the Aichi Prefectural Institute of Ceramic Industry. After returning to Wakayama he established a kiln and workshop at Koyaguchi-Odawara. Tokugawa Yorisada, the former lord of the Kishu Domain, was looking for a potter to revive Kishu-ware. He approached Samukawa and asked him to produce Kishu pieces using traditional glazes and techniques. His kiln was then renamed Aoi Gama, aoi (hollyhock) being the crest of the Tokugawa clan. In 1956 Samukawa developed the now famous Nachiguro-Yu glaze technique, a black coloured glaze made from black Nachiguro stones. The kiln was later moved to Nanki Shirahama in 1967, three years later Samukawa was designated as a Person of Cultural Merit by the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs. Before his death in 1975 he received the highly coveted Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays. Aoi Gama is now in its second generation and run by Samukawa’s eldest son, Samukawa Seiho II.  **Fellow sellers, this information was researched by Kominka Zakka and CANNOT be used in your own listings.

Kishu-ware refers to pottery that was first produced during the Edo period in modern day Wakayama Prefecture, however many kilns were forced to close down after the abolition of the Kishu Domain. The very last of its kind closed in 1878. In 1937 a potter named Samukawa Seiho was tasked with reviving the traditional Kishu style of pottery at his kiln Aoi Gama. High-fired Kishu-ware features a variety of glazes ranging from light coloured Kohiki style pieces, Mishima patterned pieces, and those made by the Samukawa family of potters that are coated in black glaze made from Nichiguro stones. Kishu potters also produce low fired Raku-style pieces which are often hand-painted with various patterns and motifs like those found in Kyoto.                                                  

Sizes

Box:  H.11.5cm (4.5”) x 14.7cm (5.7”) x 14.7cm (5.7”)

Chawan:  H.7.5cm (2.9”) x Dia.11.5cm (4.5”)                                                                           

Condition

It’s in very good condition with no chips or cracks, the box however is a little spotty on the interior.                                                                                                                             

THESE ARE SHIPPING ESTIMATES BASED ON THE CURRENT GLOBAL SITUATION                                                                 

**Germany, France, Greece, Spain, Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Lithuania, Slovenia:  NO SHIPPING.  Very strict and expensive packaging laws in place and we are not licensed to send products to these countries.  We have no plan to register at this time because the process is in some cases very expensive and complicated, plus each country has its own set of regulations and application process. 

**USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Norway: Airmail  Small Packet (approx. 15-28 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Asia:  Airmail Small Packet (approx. 15-21 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail Small Packet (please send us a message).

**Central Asia, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico:  EMS Express 10-15 days.

**Russia:  No shipping methods available.