Teabowl 1807 - 1827

This teabowl was made by Mitani Rinsō using traditional ceramic techniques. You can see the artist's hands at work in the slightly irregular form. Its rustic appearance comes from the clay and glaze, which have contracted at different rates during firing, resulting in a network of cracks called 'crazing.' These effects weren't accidental. Mitani Rinsō was working in the spirit of *wabi-sabi*, a Japanese aesthetic philosophy that values imperfection and transience. It's all about finding beauty in the handmade. Consider the labor and skill involved in making this bowl. It requires a deep understanding of materials, a mastery of the potter's wheel, and also the kiln firing process. The form may seem effortless, but it represents years of dedicated practice. Objects like this remind us that even everyday items can be infused with artistic intention and cultural meaning, blurring the line between craft and fine art.