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

This listing is for a seasonal chawan made around 20 years ago by female potter, Kiba Koen.  It is wheel-thrown and the flat hira type used during the summer season. Hira chawan are shallow bowls with low sides designed to cool tea down faster. The bowl in this listing is decorated with hotaru, which means firefly.  Hotaru are generally viewed with a sense of nostalgia as they evoke childhood memories of summer.  They appear in June and July when evenings are warm, and only last one to two weeks.  Their beautiful lights darting in and around streams are believed to be the souls of departed soldiers who died in war. The stamp of the potter can be found on the bottom, and it comes with its original signed wooden storage box.  It also comes with a yellow wrapping cloth for when the item is not in use. 

Kiba Koen (b.1950) is a female potter and first generation master of Hanayama Gama.  She was born and raised in Kagoshima and moved to Kyoto to study design at the Kyoto Prefectural Ceramics Institute.  She graduated in 1972 and began studying pottery under Miyagawa Koun II (b.1938).  In 1981 she completed a ceramics course at the Kyoto Municipal Industrial Research Institute and opened Hanayama kiln one year later.  In 2002 her work was selected for the Kyoto Prefectural Industrial Technology Contest, with consecutive selection every year since 2011.  Kiba produces a large number of tea bowls and is very skilled at making Ninsei utsushi pieces.  In addition to chawan she also produces vases and kogo.  Her style varies between traditional Kyo-ware pottery to Western-style works with Christmas and Halloween motifs.  **Fellow sellers, this information was researched by Kominka Zakka and CANNOT be used in your own listings.　　 　　

Kyo-ware originated in the 17th century in Kyoto and features overglaze enamel pigments on a porcelain base. The porcelain base acts as white canvas, allowing for beautiful and superior quality designs to be painted. Kyo-ware artisans traditionally produced chawan and utensils for the tea ceremony, however contemporary potters specialize in tableware, tea ceremony items, incense holders, and okimono. Kyo-ware was designated as a traditional craft in 1977.

Sizes

Box:  H.9.7cm (3.8”) x 15.2cm (5.9”) x 15.2cm (5.9”)

Chawan:  H.6.1cm (2.4”) x Dia.13cm (5.1”)                                                                              

Condition

It’s in very good condition with no chips or cracks, however the inside of the box is spotty and the yellow wrapping cloth has stains.                                                                  

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 ePacket (approx. 15-28 days).  Combined shipping available up to 2kgs for Airmail ePacket (please send us a message).

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

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

**Russia:  No shipping methods available.