Black Shihō Chawan – Carved Oribe Style Matcha Bowl

A bold, sculptural presence. This square-form (shihō) chawan wears a deep black glaze with a rough, almost volcanic texture, cut through with carved arcs and vertical strokes that reveal glints of the clay beneath — like mountain ridges emerging from a night landscape.

The gently warped rim and softened square silhouette follow the spirit of Kuro-Oribe — the black tea ware tradition inspired by the tea master Furuta Oribe, who prized bold distortion and unconventional form over quiet symmetry. The raw, sandy foot grounds the drama in honest clay.

A vintage find from Kyoto's Tenjin-ichi market at Kitano Tenmangū Shrine, held on the 25th of each month for centuries.

Form: Shihō (rounded square) chawan with warped rim
Glaze: Textured black with carved linear decoration in the Oribe spirit
Dimensions: 11.8 × 11.8 cm × 8.0 cm H
Weight: 322 g
Clay: Coarse gray stoneware, unglazed foot
Marks: Impressed round seal on the base reading Keiraku (桂楽)
Condition: Pre-owned, excellent vintage condition — no chips, cracks, or repairs.
Box: Paper storage box

Furuta Oribe (1544–1615), samurai and tea master, upended the aesthetics of his day by championing tea ware that was deliberately warped, asymmetric, and dramatic. Black Oribe bowls — dark-glazed, boldly shaped, often carved or incised — remain among the most striking expressions of that rebellious taste.

This bowl carries the lineage forward: a square form that sits with sculptural weight, a rim that rises and dips under the hand, and carved lines that catch the light differently at every turn. In use, whisked matcha glows against the black glaze; between uses, it holds a shelf like a small piece of sculpture.

Hand wash with warm water and a soft cloth. Avoid dishwashers, microwaves, and abrasive scrubbing. Dry fully before storing.

The textured glaze and raw foot are robust for daily use — with time and tea, the surface will only gain character.

This is the exact bowl photographed — a unique vintage find that will not be restocked.

Carefully packed and shipped directly from our Kyoto studio via Japan Post EMS, fully tracked and insured.