Vintage item, never used. This is a beautiful Karatsu-yaki water jar / mizusashi (唐津焼 水指), decorated in the style of Tetsu-e Kusamon Karatsu (鉄絵草文唐津) — Karatsu ware with iron-painted grass motifs.
The piece has a quiet, rustic presence, with a soft off-white glaze covering the rounded body and lid. Across the front, freely brushed iron-pigment grass design (草文) appears in deep grey-black tones, giving the vessel a natural and spontaneous expression. The decoration is simple but full of movement, reflecting the wabi-sabi spirit often associated with Karatsu ware and tea ceremony utensils.
A mizusashi is an essential vessel in the Japanese tea ceremony, used to hold fresh water for replenishing the kettle and rinsing utensils. Because it is placed prominently in the tea room, the form, glaze, and seasonal feeling of the mizusashi are highly appreciated. This piece carries the warm, humble beauty of Karatsu ware, with its slightly irregular surface, crackled glaze texture, and earthy handmade character.
Karatsu ware, produced mainly in Saga and Nagasaki Prefectures, has long been treasured by tea practitioners. It is often praised in the saying “First Raku, second Hagi, third Karatsu”, showing its important place among Japanese tea ceramics. The iron-painted grass motif is one of the classic decorative styles of Karatsu, known for its restrained yet expressive brushwork.
A refined vintage tea ceremony piece, suitable for display, collection, or use as a decorative vessel. Its calm color palette and natural motif make it easy to appreciate both as Japanese pottery and as an object of quiet beauty.
Size: 15 x 15 x 16cm
