YAMACHAWAN (MOUNTAIN TEA BOWL), Ko-Tokoname, with wooden box, Heian–Kamakura Period (794–1333 CE)

This is a Yamachawan (Mountain Tea Bowl) from the Ko-Tokoname tradition, dating from the late Heian to early Kamakura periods (794–1333 CE). While it can be classified as a tea bowl, this unglazed, rustic ceramic exemplifies a style that began in the late Heian period (late 11th century) and continued for approximately 400 years until the early Sengoku period (late 15th century). Emerging during a time when the mass production of ash-glazed ceramics was transforming high-end wares into everyday items, this piece represents a functional yet aesthetically pleasing approach to pottery. The bowl features a gracefully warped rim, suggesting its connection to tea ceramics, and can also serve as a tea vessel when paired with a tea caddy. It comes with a wooden box.