Kyo-yaki Signed Tea Bowl, Heian Court Figures, Gold-Decorated Cherry Blossom Motif, with Original Wooden Storage Box
Kyoto has a long history of ceramic culture, and Kyo-yaki (Kyoto ware) is renowned for its rich decorative expression, diverse painted subjects and refined tea ceremony wares. Unlike pottery that emphasizes clay texture and natural kiln effects, many Kyo-yaki pieces place particular importance on the painting art of the vessel's surface, frequently incorporating figures, landscapes, birds and flowers, seasonal scenery and classical literary themes into ceramic work. This tea bowl conveys a strong sense of Kyoto's decorative ceramic art. The bowl has an overall form that flares slightly outward, with a wide mouth rim, a rounded body, and a base drawn in to a footring. The proportions are natural, combining the practical structure of a tea bowl with visual appeal.
