A work created through the virtuoso technique of Shinemon: Yuteki Tenmoku (oil-spot tenmoku), on which feudal lords such as Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi placed a value beyond compare.

A Vessel of the Nobility
In days of old, Yuteki Tenmoku was a vessel of the nobility, revered by feudal lords such as Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi as a display of their power. Making it is extraordinarily difficult. Yuteki tenmoku refers to beautiful clusters of spots that look just like drops of oil.

Black-Silver, Like Obsidian
Even among the oil-spot works of today, this piece stands out for its spots of a beautiful black-silver with real depth, just like obsidian.

A Morning-Glory Form
The bowl has a beautiful morning-glory (asagao) form. Cradle it in your hands and you will marvel at how pleasing it feels — the fruit of Arita’s traditional skill on the potter’s wheel.

Heaven in a Tea Bowl
An oil-spot tenmoku that expresses Heaven — the cosmos. Truly a piece worthy of a family heirloom. We hope you will take the time to see it, and feel it, for yourself.

About Arita Ware
Arita ware is the origin of Japanese porcelain. In 1616, under the rule of the Saga domain lord Naoshige Nabeshima, pottery stone was found in what is now Saga Prefecture and production began. Because the wares were made in Arita and shipped from the port of Imari, they are also known as Imari ware. Carried to Europe by the Dutch East India Company — the only trading partner permitted during Japan’s period of national seclusion — the porcelain was called “white gold” and furnished the courts of royalty and nobility.

What Is Tenmoku?
Tenmoku is a family of dark iron glazes that came to Japan from China and has been prized in the tea world for centuries. Yuteki tenmoku — oil-spot tenmoku — takes its name from the crystals that surface during firing and scatter across the black glaze like drops of oil on water. Several such bowls are designated National Treasures of Japan.

Why a Paulownia Box
Paulownia wood is light, resists moisture and insects, and moves with changes in humidity — which is why it has been used in Japan for centuries to store what is valuable. A piece delivered in a paulownia box arrives ready to give, and the box itself is part of the gift.

Contents and Dimensions
Matcha bowl × 1, paulownia box, booklet.
Mouth diameter: 15.3cm, Height: 6.4 / Foot diameter: 4cm
As each piece is handmade, slight variations in size may occur.