A Kawai Kanjirō Tea Bowl Seen Only in Black and White

Tea Bowl with Brushed Decoration

A thick curved stroke arches over a long shape that tapers to a point, with lighter grey strokes behind. The straight-sided bowl stands on a short foot, its pale surface flecked with dark spots.

The bowl is attributed to Kawai Kanjirō (河井寬次郎, 1890 to 1966) and said to date from around 1947. No record we found confirms either.

What a Black-and-White Photograph Leaves Out

The photograph appears to come from a book. Without colour, it shows only that the decoration is bold, brushed and abstract. Its glazes and colours would be guesswork, so we leave them out.

The Potter

Kawai co-founded the Mingei (folk craft) movement. A flyer for one of his Takashimaya shows is in our post on a flattened vase, and another piece labelled as his in Kawai Kanjirō's 1942 ceramic dish.

Even in black and white, this bowl is all about the brush. Take the brush away and you have the bowls in the EngiCrafts bowl selection: dark glazes, gently uneven forms, nothing painted.