Tea bowl with cranes late 18th - early 19th century

ceramic

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ceramic

japan

culinary art

food illustration

stoneware

coloured pencil

ceramic

watercolour bleed

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This tea bowl, created by the famed Japanese potter Raku Ryōnyū between the late 18th and early 19th centuries, is a striking example of Raku ware. The bowl's rich red glaze and the delicate gold-painted cranes create a visual contrast, highlighting the beauty of simple, everyday objects. The uneven, hand-formed shape and slightly asymmetrical design are typical of Raku ware, a style known for its rustic charm and spontaneous beauty. The Minneapolis Institute of Art houses this small but remarkable piece, a testament to the artistry and craftsmanship of the Raku tradition.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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This pair of red and black tea bowls features incised designs of cranes and turtles, both auspicious motifs associated with longevity. The underside of each bowl is marked with the character Raku, indicating that it was made by an artist in the famous Raku family of master potters, in this case Raku Ryōnyū the family’s ninth-generation head. Raku wares are generally hand-shaped—as opposed to being thrown on a wheel—and are fired at relatively low temperatures. With a history dating to the end of the sixteenth century, the Raku family workshops counted many of the capital’s elite tea masters among their patrons.