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

This listing is for a beautiful Kyo-ware chawan tea bowl made by noted potter, Mori Shunzan III.  It is wheel-thrown and decorated with a hand-painted ‘unkin’ pattern over white glaze.  Unkin refers to a play on words comparing the cherry blossoms of Yoshino and the autumn leaves of the Tatsuta River in Nara.  This comparison originates from a sentence in a Heian Period collection of poems known as ‘Kokin Wakashu’ - “The maple leaves along the Tatsuta River on an autumn evening were a beautiful sight to the emperor, and the cherry blossoms on the mountains of Yoshino on a spring morning seem to Hitomaro to be nothing but clouds in his mind”.  Unkin depictions typically show fully bloomed cherry blossoms as white clouds, and vividly coloured autumn leaves as brocade.  Unkin teaware can be used in both spring and autumn and is a very popular pattern among tea practitioners. The stamp of the potter can be found on the bottom, and it comes with a paper storage box.  *PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CHASHAKU TEA SCOOP IS NOT INCLUDED.

Mori Shunzan III (b.1957) is a Kyo-ware potter and third generation master of Shunzan Gama. Shunzan Gama is located in the Sennyu-ji temple area of Kyoto and was established in 1917. They have been in operation for the past 100 years and specialise in hand-painted Ogata Kenzan style pieces. Shunzan III graduated from the Kyoto Prefecture Ceramics Training Institute in 1977, and he spent one year at the Kyoto Municipal Industrial Research Institute where he studied under master potter Miyashita Zenju (1901-1988). In 2007 he became Chairman of the Kyoto Seiyokai Pottery Cooperative, and in 2008 he became certified as a Traditional Craftsperson of Kyo and Kiyomizu-ware pottery.  He is also a member of the Kyoto Craft Artists Association. In 2012 he was also certified as a Kyoto City Master Craftsperson of the Future, an honour bestowed upon those who later become certified as intangible cultural property. During his career his work has been selected for several exhibitions such as the prestigious Nitten Fine Art Exhibition, the Japan Ceramic Art Exhibition, and the Asahi Ceramic Art Exhibition.  He received awards at the Japan New Crafts Exhibition, Kyoto Exhibition, and All Kansai Art Exhibition.  **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

Paper Box:  H.9.3cm (3.6”) x 13.8cm (5.4”) x 13.8cm (5.4”)

Chawan:  H.7.1cm (2.7”) x Dia.11.7cm (4.6”)

Condition

It’s in very good condition and appears unused.

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.