Tea bowl

Tea bowls are thought to have reached Japan from China together with tea. In the Muromachi period, tenmoku bowls imported from Song China were treasured by tea masters; such continental objects used for and around tea were called karamono, and those singled out by the taste of the time came to be valued as meibutsu, “famous objects.” Later, everyday bowls of Joseon Korea were chosen by Japanese tea masters, put to use as tea bowls, and treasured; Ido bowls are one example. Japanese-made wamono include Raku, Hagi, Karatsu, Shino, and Oribe, and enthusiasts have a saying: “first Raku, second Hagi, third Karatsu.”

Look at the bowl's outline from the side first, then at the inside and the foot ring underneath.

Does this bowl look made to be looked at, or to be used?