Japanese Tea Bowl Chawan Aka Raku 赤楽 Rose – by Eikō Myodō 永興明道 – Tomobako

📐 Features

Height : approx. 6 cm
Diameter : approx. 14.5 cm
Weight : approx. 291 g
Shape : hira-chawan 平茶碗, flat summer bowl
Style : Aka Raku 赤楽, Raku-yaki 楽焼, wabi-sabi aesthetic
Craftsman/Kiln : potter's name Eikō Myodō 永興明道, real name Gotō Myōdō 後藤明道, 1st generation of the Mandokoro-gama 政所窯 kiln
Estimated period : Shōwa 昭和 , 20th century
Origin : Japan, found in Osaka Prefecture
Condition : Perfect vintage condition. No cracks or chips. Comes with accompanying wooden box, not original. Box has stains on the lid.

Description

This pink Aka Raku chawan 赤楽茶碗 is a superb Japanese matcha bowl in hirachawan 平茶碗 form, accompanied by a wooden box, but not original.

Aka Raku 赤楽 is one of the great expressions of Raku-yaki, ceramics intimately linked to the Japanese tea ceremony, originating from Kyoto. Its soft and changing rosy red glaze highlights the spontaneity of the modeling and the wabi-sabi spirit.

The hira chawan 平茶碗 shape, low and open, is traditionally appreciated as a summer bowl. Its generous diameter allows the matcha to cool faster, while offering a broad, calm and balanced presence.

The surface features a superb salmon pink enamel, nuanced with bluish gray areas and redder passages. A fine kanyū 貫入 crackle can be observed over the entire glaze, forming a delicate network that brings depth, texture and character to the bowl.

The rim, intentionally irregular, is very soft and pleasant to the touch. The kōdai 高台 foot, left in light clay, has a spiral shape evoking a uzumaki 渦巻 whirlpool pattern, very expressive and typical of the Raku spirit. The handwritten signature of the craftsman Eikō Myōdō 永興明道 can be observed near the foot.

Inside the bowl, there is an inscription made by a monk from Entoku-in, but this could not be identified.

About the craftsman: Eikō Myōdō 永興明道

Eikō Myōdō 永興明道, whose real name is Gotō Myōdō 後藤明道, is the first master of the Mandokoro-gama 政所窯 kiln. This kiln was established in Entoku-in 圓徳院, in the vicinity of Kōdai-ji 高台寺 temple in Kyoto, and is part of the tradition of oniwa-yaki 御庭焼, these ceramic productions linked to a temple, a residence or a prestigious domain. Gotō Myōdō, also linked to the religious life of Entoku-in, dedicated himself notably to pieces intended for chanoyu, with a production in Raku-yaki 楽焼 and Oribe-yaki 織部焼. His work thus combines the spirit of tea, wabi-sabi sobriety and the spiritual heritage of Kyoto, giving this hira-chawan Aka Raku a dimension that is both artisanal, aesthetic and historical.

🦝 Our opinion

A real favorite when we came across this pink hirachawan Aka Raku! We love its subtly changing color, between pink, bluish gray and deep red! Its summer bowl shape is quite rare and makes it even more interesting! Despite a box that is not original, it is a piece made and signed by a great master craftsman!

An ideal piece for matcha lovers, Japanese ceramic collectors or wabi-sabi enthusiasts.