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Red raku matcha tea bowl fromthe Shōraku Kiln
Handmade matcha tea bowl from the Shōraku Kiln under Sasaki Shōraku III.
Maku-gusuri (the “curtain glaze” effect) of an Aka Raku chawan (red Raku tea bowl) is so called because the melted glaze flows from the rim and drapes downward like a curtain (maku) after firing.
The first layer of black glaze is applied to the tea bowl. Afterwards, an additional layer of glaze is added, and the bowl is placed into the kiln by the craftsman. It is at this stage that his skill is truly tested. The kiln conditions must be carefully monitored: if the second layer of glaze runs all the way down to the base, the curtain effect will not appear; if the bowl is removed too early, the glaze will not form properly. The craftsman must remove the bowl from the kiln at precisely the right moment for the curtain-like pattern to emerge.
Each Kuro Raku chawan produced through this process has a completely unique character.
The glaze is not applied to the foot of the tea bowl, allowing the natural texture of the clay to remain visible. The middle of the bowl is gently curved, making it comfortable to hold.
This tea bowl comes in a paulownia wooden box signed by the kiln.
Place of origin: Kyoto, Japan
INITIATION
We recommend initiating your Raku tea bowl before use.
Raku chawan are delicate because the clay is porous. Soaking the bowl in lukewarm water with a small amount of rice powder allows the starch to enter the pores and help strengthen the clay.
If you select the initiation option, we will do this for you before shipping. If you prefer to do it yourself, please see the instructions below or our blog post (linked below).
☆ WE GUARANTEE SAFE DELIVERY - if the product gets damaged in transit we will replace or make a refund.
☆ HANDMADE PRODUCT - Please note that the item we have in stock might not be the same piece shown on the pictures above. Each piece is unique and slightly different from each other. If you are particular about either the size, the capacity or the appearance, contact us, and we will share photos or the exact details of our available pieces in stock.
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Item code: TDY085
Maker: Shōraku Kiln
Origin: Japan
Material: clay
Dimensions: Φ 12 cm, H: 8 cm
The customs duties do not belong to our competence. It may occur that duties have to be paid on receipt of the parcel. About the current rates of customs duties in your country please contact local authority. To learn about international shipping, read more here.
Posting time can vary due to the manufacturers capacity, Japanese national holidays, as well as natural disasters or accidents, etc., and we can not guarantee posting dates.
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaidjan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belgium
Bhutan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brunei Darussalam
Bulgaria
Cambodia
Canada
Chile
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Djibouti
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Estonia
Ethiopia
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
Gabon
Georgia
Germany
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Guam (USA)
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Italy
Ivory Coast (Cote D'Ivoire)
Jamaica
Japan
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Myanmar
Nepal
Netherlands
New Caledonia (French)
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Pakistan
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Reunion Island
Romania
Rwanda
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Sint Maarten
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Sweden
Switzerland
Tahiti (French Polynesia)
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
United States of America
United States of America
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Zimbabwe
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us
Initiation:
Before the first use, put the Raku bowl in lukewarm water with a cup of raw rice. Make sure that the bowl is wholly immersed in the water, and let it sit there for about 15 minutes. The rice powder in the water seals the pores of the Raku chawan, making its walls sturdier and less fragile.
Cleaning:
To clean, dip the tea bowl in lukewarm water: a new bowl for one or two minutes; an older one for about 30 seconds. Never let the bowl sit in water for much longer, for the tea bowl might burst!
Storage:
After use always dry it with a towel. If you live in a place with rainy seasons or high humidity, always make sure that the walls are dry enough, because constant exposure to moisture might damage the bowl. If mould or unusual odor develops on the bowl, prepare tea in it every day. (Do not drink that tea, just discard it.) The smell should be gone in a week. In case it is not, contact us for further instructions.
Usage:
Raku tea bowls are traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies. They are fairly porous by nature, which means the water might seep through their pores. Raku ware is vulnerable to acid, so avoid putting acidy food in it. A Raku bowl is made for tea, avoid using it for any other kinds of food!
Due to the porous feature of Raku ware, the glaze might develop crackles in time. This phenomenon is completely normal and should not cause any problems. Raku is fragile though, and it could happen that after some time, it breaks on its own.
Read more about Raku tea bowls and Initiation here:
