Vintage, item, never used. A refined Kyō-yaki 京焼 chawan (茶碗) for matcha, decorated with a graceful 流水に筏 (ryūsui ni ikada) motif — a traditional Japanese design depicting a raft floating on flowing water.
The bowl has a softly rounded form with a warm ivory-white glaze and delicate kannyū (貫入) crazing across the surface. Around the exterior, bundled wooden logs form the ikada (筏 / raft), rendered in deep brown and outlined with fine gold detailing. Small blossoms and foliage decorate the raft, while elegant cobalt-blue lines represent flowing water (流水 / ryūsui), giving the composition a gentle sense of movement.
The 流水に筏 motif is a poetic theme in Japanese decorative arts. Flowing water often symbolizes continuity, change and the passage of time, while the raft suggests a journey carried naturally by the current. Together, the imagery creates a quiet, contemplative atmosphere particularly well suited to the aesthetics of the Japanese tea ceremony.
Kyō-yaki (京焼) refers to ceramics made in Kyoto, a city deeply connected with tea culture and refined decorative craftsmanship. Rather than being defined by a single glaze or technique, Kyō-yaki is known for its diversity, often combining elegant forms with delicate painting, seasonal motifs and touches of gold.
The soft crackled glaze, restrained color palette and subtle irregularity also give this chawan a gentle wabi-sabi (侘寂) character, while the painted raft and water add a distinctly classical Kyoto elegance.
Size: 12 x 12 x 8cm
