A Red Raku Tea Bowl w/ Painted Chrysanthemum by Raku Konyu (12)
August 2020 Auction by Far East Asian Art

This iconic tea bowl was crafted by one of the great masters of Japanese pottery and given the poetic name "Dewdrop" by a famous tea master of the Omote-senke school of tea. The Chrysanthemum flowers (Kiku) depicted on the front of the bowl are auspicious symbols of longevity and rejuvenation in Japan. When first introduced to the island nation during the Nara period (710-793 AC) the Japanese Royal Family was fascinated with this enigmatic flower...