Tea Bowl, Higawari

Matsubayashi Yukoan, who is based in Uji, Kyoto, works in the subtle gohonde style of Asahi ware, a centuries-old specialty of the Matsubayashi family. This work, which was designed expressly for the Museum collection, has the superb coloration referred to as higawari ("changing in the fire"), a result of the interaction between kiln structure, pine fuel, and a special clay called kase.