A beautifully rustic vintage Iraho-style chawan (伊羅保茶碗), made in the tradition of Korean-inspired tea bowls that became highly admired in Japan through the culture of chanoyu, the Way of Tea.
The bowl has a softly rounded, slightly cylindrical form with a compact foot and an intentionally restrained silhouette. Its surface is covered in a muted grey-green glaze with warm beige and ochre brush-like areas flowing around the body. Small iron-rich spots and subtle variations in tone give the piece a quiet, weathered character.
Iraho (伊羅保) refers to a type of Korean tea bowl admired in Japan since the Momoyama and early Edo periods. The term is commonly associated with a somewhat rough or sandy surface texture, muted yellow, brown and grey-green tones, and a deliberately simple, unpretentious form.
Iraho bowls were especially appreciated by Japanese tea practitioners for their subdued beauty and strong wabi character. Rather than relying on elaborate decoration, their appeal lies in irregular surfaces, natural glaze effects and the quiet individuality created during firing.
