| Description |
Some of the characteristics of tenmoku tea bowls produced at the Jizhou kilns in Jiangxi Province are the white clay body, the thinly potted body which was achievable due to the fineness of the clay, and the small foot. The silhouette of a natural leaf imprinted in the interior during firing gives the name konoha (leaf) tenmoku. Even the minute veins are clearly visible, making this work a renowned masterpiece among the extant konoha tenmoku tea bowls. It is thought that a mulberry leaf, which was used for producing this decoration, was believed at that time to be associated with the idea of Zen. The opposite side of the interior wall is a faint trace of a gilt decoration including a plum blossom. This work was preserved by the Maeda family of the Kaga domain (present-day Ishikawa Prefecture) through many generations. It accompanies a gold band that can be mounted on the mouth rim, which is known in Japan as fukurin. |
