A handled bowl of Takatori ware, fired in the early Edo period at the Uchigaiso kiln in Chikuzen, an official kiln of the Kuroda domain. The vessel is generously proportioned, with a pronounced swelling at the waist, and a thick, looped handle spans the interior just below the rim. Amber glaze and straw-ash glaze are applied in broad, unrestrained areas, the latter flowing naturally into the well to create a varied surface. Around the foot, fused sand and ash are conspicuous, not as deliberate setters for stacking, but as traces of direct exposure to the heat and atmosphere of the kiln.

The Uchigaiso kiln, established under domain patronage, produced tea wares of notable refinement. In this piece, the disciplined context of an official kiln is set against the vigorous, expressive glaze effects characteristic of early Takatori, resulting in a work of considerable presence. It stands as a compelling example of the kiln’s aesthetic, where form, glaze, and firing conditions converge with clarity.

Apart from kiln-related imperfections, there are no noticeable defects, and the condition is excellent. The bowl is housed in an old wooden box inscribed “Karatsu Tebachi (handled bowl),” a misattribution that reflects a time when Takatori and Karatsu were often conflated.