Tea bowl (chawan) c. 20th century

This tea bowl (chawan) was created by Takahashi Rakusai IV, a 20th-century Japanese ceramicist, and is a prime example of the tea ceremony aesthetic. The bowl's simple form and rustic, brown and white glaze reflect the values of wabi-sabi, a philosophy that celebrates imperfection and the beauty of natural materials. The chawan’s rough, textured surface evokes the earth and is meant to be held in the hands, allowing for a tactile connection with the object and the tea ceremony itself.