KILN-DAMAGED TEA BOWL WITH FIRING ADHESION, Ko-Seto, Muromachi Period（1336–1573CE）

A broken Ko-Seto tea bowl dating to the Muromachi period.

Ko-Seto is one of the principal glazed ceramics of medieval Japan; ash-glazed bowls, jars, and Buddhist ritual objects were produced within this tradition. Examples bearing adhering accretions and kiln scars, as with this piece, reveal the kiln’s accidental effects directly—marks that set them apart from vessels selected for everyday use.

A pale yellow‑tinged ash glaze covers the entire surface, and fine crackle extends from the interior across the exterior. There is substantial loss from the rim down to the body, with evidence suggesting it adhered to other vessels in the kiln, and areas of rough, exposed clay remain.

Although too extensively broken to be regarded as a complete tea bowl, the damage paradoxically reveals the Ko-Seto clay, the thickness of the glaze, and the forces at work during firing. The quiet sheen of the ash glaze contrasts with the rawness of the missing areas, and, though fragmentary, the vessel presents a coherent composition.

The broken form is compelling in itself; with a few wildflowers it can also be enjoyed as a small flower vessel. As a remnant of an old kiln, it offers a robust presence and an evocative sense of the medieval period.

There are substantial losses, kiln damage, firing adhesion marks, areas of glaze loss, and exposed clay. Please appreciate these features as part of the work’s aesthetic.