Japanese Meiji Period Tea-Dust Glaze Conical (Pointed-Base) Teabowl and Stand

This set consists of a pointed-base teabowl and a matching stand.

The teabowl features a tea-dust glaze, a hue blending yellow and green. Originating in the Tang Dynasty, this glaze type was produced continuously through the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The bowl has a pointed base, marked with the seal "Mashirokawa Kanjiro," exuding antique elegance.

The stand is crafted in the robust and full-bodied style of the Southern Song Dynasty, using the Japanese "Doraku-nuri" lacquer technique. It boasts an upright and elegant form, with a drum-shaped holder that securely encases the pointed base of the bowl. The foot of the stand flares outward into a trumpet shape, ensuring stability and resistance to tipping. The fine, concentric grooves on the surface are not only aesthetically pleasing but also enhance friction.

Regarding tea-dust glaze, Chen Liu noted in Taoya (Ceramic Elegance): "The tea-dust glaze is inherently a blend of yellow, black, and green... The official kilns of the Yongzheng reign tended toward yellow, while those with a predominance of green are the rarest, typically from the Qianlong period... Tea-dust glaze, a mix of yellow and green, is charming yet not vulgar, more vibrant than flowers, as beautiful as jade."

Furthermore, this style of conical (pointed-base) teabowl appeared as early as the Shang Dynasty at Sanxingdui. Pointed-base bowls were used in conjunction with stands. Such pointed-base vessels were also prevalent from the Western Zhou Dynasty through the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, but became rare after the Yuan Dynasty.