A Kogaratsu teabowl fired in the Momoyama to the early Edo period. It exemplifies the kawakujira (“whale skin”) style, in which the rim is banded with iron glaze. It forms a generously rounded shape, supported on a small crescent-shaped footring. The deep interior and relatively thin walls combine a palpable lightness with the distinctive sense of strength characteristic of early Karatsu ware.

The surface is suffused with a modest interplay of vermilion tint and bluish-grey tones, while areas of glaze shrinkage along the lower body add to its subtle charm. The overall form is both robust and graceful, its restrained surface effects resonating with the wabi-sabi aesthetic of tea.

An excavated heirloom piece, it bears lacquer repairs with touches of Kintsugi to rim chips and kiln flaws within the interior. Despite such restorations, the surface shows no harshness; instead, it glows with the deep lustre acquired through long-term use. Accompanied by a silk pouch and a box inscribed “Karatsu Kawakujira Chawan.”