This elegant Kyō-yaki / Kiyomizu-yaki matcha chawan by Nakamura Tōsai 中村陶彩 beautifully reflects Kyoto’s refined overglaze painting tradition and the artist’s dedication to tea ceremony ceramics.
The bowl features a classic rounded tea form with a gently flared rim finished in a delicate band of gold. The ivory-white glaze, subtly crackled, provides a luminous ground for the finely detailed decoration. Encircling the exterior is a graceful Hina doll motif (雛人形), depicting the Imperial couple in elaborate Heian-period court attire. The figures are rendered in vivid overglaze enamels—crimson, emerald green, soft pink, and touches of gold—set beneath arching willow branches and seasonal blossoms. The fine brushwork and gold accents demonstrate the precision and elegance characteristic of Kyoto overglaze techniques (色絵).
Nakamura Tōsai, born in 1947 in Higashiyama, Kyoto, trained under his father, the first Tōsai, continuing the family lineage of Kyō-yaki artistry. He primarily produces tea ceremony utensils and refined tableware. In 1985, his works were donated to Xi’an, China, marking international recognition of his craftsmanship. He has consistently exhibited at the annual Overglaze Kyōyaki and Kiyomizuyaki Exhibition, contributing to the preservation and evolution of Kyoto’s decorative ceramic traditions.
This chawan is both a functional tea vessel and a celebratory seasonal piece, particularly suited for spring tea gatherings and Hinamatsuri-themed occasions, embodying the elegance and narrative beauty of Kyoto ceramic art.
