Vintage Japanese Shino Chawan Tea Ceremony Bowl Ceramic 4.75" w/ Kiri Wood Box

This is a Vintage Japanese hand built Shino ware chawan.

Height: 3.25"
Diameter: 4.75"

Seasonal Use: Winter (thick body and softly enclosed shape)

Type: Shino ware chawan

Kiln: Possibly a modern artist kiln (not explicitly named)

Clay: Mino-style clay, high in feldspar with visible iron speckling

Glaze: White feldspar-based Shino glaze with soft hi-iro flame marks and iron-oxide brushwork

Motif: Stylized bridge across the front, with cross marks on the back — an evocative design referencing the passage across a sacred space or poetic journey

Name: Not explicitly named

Artist: 天巌 (Tengan) — artist signature appears with red seal on box

Footmark: Artist’s impressed leaf and droplet symbol, hand-carved near the kodai (foot)

Box Signed By: Same (artist signature and seal)

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Detail

Box Reads:
吉良 作 志野 茶碗 (Kira saku Shino chawan)

志野茶碗 (Shino chawan) = Shino-style tea bowl

作 (saku): “Made by”

吉良 (Kira): Possibly box calligrapher or associated craftsman

The red seal and signature match 天巌 (Tengan) – ceramic artist

Green Insert Translation:
This piece is made in the tradition of Raku ware, one of Japan’s oldest ceramic styles with 400+ years of history. While the insert references Raku, the bowl itself is distinctly Shino ware in both construction and glaze, indicating the insert is a general care statement rather than specific to this piece.

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This is a vintage Japanese Showa era hand made chawan with original kiri wood presentation box, featuring the artist’s unique footmark stamp and stylized brushwork evoking traditional symbolism.