Vintage item, never used. A refine mizusashi (水指 / fresh-water jar) made in Kyoto by Heian Omuro-gama (平安御室窯), a kiln working within the tradition of Kyō-yaki (京焼). The piece is executed in a Chōsen Karatsu-style (朝鮮唐津) glaze, creating a dramatic contrast between warm iron-brown tones and flowing milky white glaze.
The cylindrical body has a strong, balanced form, with two small vertical lug-like details at the sides. Around the upper section, the glaze develops into a rich chestnut-brown band before cascading downward in pale white and bluish-grey tones. The flowing glaze creates natural vertical streaks and soft pooled areas, giving the surface a spontaneous and expressive appearance characteristic of Karatsu-inspired tea ceramics.
The vessel is completed with a fitted black lacquer lid (塗蓋), whose glossy finish creates an elegant contrast with the earthy ceramic body. In the tea ceremony, a mizusashi holds fresh water used during the preparation of matcha and is one of the principal utensils placed beside the kettle.
The term Chōsen Karatsu (朝鮮唐津) refers to a celebrated Karatsu glaze style in which contrasting dark iron glaze and lighter straw-ash glaze interact during firing. The resulting runs, overlaps and tonal transitions are highly prized for their natural, unpredictable beauty. In this Kyoto-made interpretation, that rustic Momoyama-inspired aesthetic is combined with the refined sensibility associated with Kyō-yaki.
