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

This listing is for a Shigaraki-ware chawan tea bowl made around 20-30 years ago by Ueda Soju.  It is wheel-thrown and the front and interior of the bowl are generously coated with natural ash glaze.  This is a nice sturdy piece for the cooler months, and it sits comfortably in the hand.  The signature of the potter can be found on the bottom, and it comes with its original signed wooden storage box. 

Ueda Soju (b.1949) is a Shigaraki-ware potter and current master of Tsubaki Gama in Hikari city.  After working as a designer at a printing company, he worked as a manager of Hikari City Sports Park.  During this time he attended pottery lessons at the local community centre. At the age of 35, he opened Tsubaki Gama and began producing teaware and tableware.  Since then, he has been selected for the Yamaguchi Prefectural Art Exhibition, and the Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition.  He has also held solo exhibitions all over the country.  As a result of Ueda's activities, several kilns were established in the Iboki area of Hikari city, and the annual "Tsubaki Festival" pottery event is crowded every year.  Ueda is also a folk singer and has released three albums as part of the folk group Nagi-no-za. He’s an associate member of the Japan Kogei Association, and takes on several pupils per year at his kiln. **Fellow sellers, this information was researched by Kominka Zakka and cannot be used in your own listings.

Shigaraki-ware refers to pottery made in Shiga Prefecture. Shigaraki is perhaps one of the more well-known types of stoneware with its origins dating back to the Kamakura period. The Shiga region is home to one of the six oldest kilns in Japan, and this is because of its superb clay. It has a reddish-orange colour, along with a natural ash glaze acquired from the deposit of ashes in the kilns. Pieces of quartz, feldspar or silica can often be found on the surface, giving Shigaraki a wonderful gritty texture and rustic charm. Historically potters produced wares specifically for the tea ceremony, however craftsmen gradually shifted to producing items such as vases and sake bottles as well.

Sizes

Box:  H.12.9cm (5”) x 16.1cm (6.3”) x 16.1cm (6.3”)

Chawan:  H.9.3cm (3.6”) x 12.8cm (5”)

Condition

It’s in very good condition with no chips or cracks.

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.