Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga Tea Bowl

This white minoyaki tea bowl with shino glaze has a motif of the famous Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga picture scrolls. Also known as the "Scrolls of Frolicking Animals" from the 12th & 13th century, belonging to Kozan-ji temple in Kyoto. These iconic scrolls depict animals such as rabbits, frogs and monkeys. 

Kozan-ji temple is the location of the oldest tea garden in Japan. Created by the monk Myoe who was given tea seeds by the father of tea himself, Eisai.

This style pottery originated during the Momoyama period (1573–1615) but the use of shino glaze is now widespread in both Japan and further abroad.

At the time of it's origin great tea masters who practiced tea ceremony including Sen no Rikyu were enthusiastic about Shino-yaki. These masters set the standards for tea ceremony-ware and thus created a demand for Shino chawan.

Shino glaze is a generic term for a group of potter glazes. They range in colour from off white to orange, often with charcoal grey spotting. This spotting is known as "carbon trap" 

• Age unknown 
• Size: approx 12.5cm diameter | 8cm height