備前瓢形茶入びぜんひさごがたちゃいれ

  • 岡山県・備前窯
  • 桃山時代
  • 16-17世紀
  • 焼締陶製
  • H-10.4 D-7
  • 所蔵
    MIHO MUSEUM 平瀬露香旧蔵

桃山時代 16世紀
高:10.4cm 口径:2.5cm 胴径:6.5cm

胴が強く締まった瓢形の小器で,桃山時代独特のひょうげた味わいがある。また,焼き上がりが柔らかく,稀にみる鮮やかな景色をなし,古備前として最も好ましい焼成りと言える。この作品と似たものが現在数点伝世しており,あるものは茶入として,またあるものは振り出しとして用いられている。したがって,この種のものが当初から茶入として作られたか否か明らかではないが,後に他窯で瓢形茶入が焼かれている例もあり,茶入として十分に適った器形と寸法と言えよう。胴には細く縦箆が入れられ,また胴裾や肩に面取り箆が施されているなど,一品製作されたことをうかがわせる。現在,この作品には仕覆が二つ添えられ,茶入として仕立てられている。 (赤沼)

Catalogue Entry

Momoyama period, 16th century
Bizen ware, stoneware
Height, 10.4cm; mouth diameter, 2.5cm;
torso diameter, 6.5cm

This small, gourd-shaped jar has a strongly constrained torso area and is redolent with the Momoyama period's humorous taste. The firing was also relatively gentle, producing a splendidly fresh surface texture which can be said to reflect the most desirable firing results of the old Bizen wares. There are several other extant works which resemble this tea container, and some of these extant works have been traditionally used as tea containers, while others have been used as furidashi sweets containers. Thus, while it is not certain whether this type of vessel was originally used as a tea container, there are later examples of gourd-shaped tea containers from other kilns, and this work can be said to have a vessel shape and measurements that are completely appropriate for use as a tea container. The torso area is carved with narrow, vertical spatula marks, while the edge of the torso and the shoulders have been decorated with surface-carving spatula work. These elements all make this a particularly superb work. Today this work is accompanied by 2 shifuku bags and is thus configured as a tea container. TA