Teabowl by HAYASHI Shotaro (b.1947) by Shotaro HAYASHI

A beautiful teabowl with a signature Shino glaze. Shino glaze originated in Japan's Mino region during the Momoyama period (1568–1600) and remains celebrated for its soft, milky-white surface, subtle orange flashing, and textured, crawling finish. Its distinctive chemistry — relying on sodium rather than conventional alkaline earth fluxes — combined with long wood-fired reduction cooling, produces the atmospheric, carbon-trapped effects prized by tea ceremony practitioners. Far from flaws, these irregularities embody wabi-sabi, the Japanese aesthetic of finding beauty in imperfection

HAYASHI Shotaro (b. 1947) is one of the biggest names in contemporary Mino ceramics. Although initially entering regular employment upon graduating high school, in 1967 he returned to Tokio city to help his brother Kotaro. Very quickly within him was born the urge to create. He won the highest award at the Gifu Prefectural Art Exhibition in 1968, and from there his talent blossomed. He established his own kiln in 1974. Since then his list of exhibitions and awards has been amazing, including the Nihon Dento Kogei Ten (National Traditional Arts and Crafts Exhibition), Governors Prize and five times winner of Best of Show at the Asahi Togei Ten (Asahi Ceramics Exhibition), and Best of Show at Gifu Prefectural Exhibition. At the Mino Ceramics Exhibition, in addition to the highest award, the Mino Ceramics Award, he has received all three major awards, including the Shoroku Award and the Kobei Award.