Japanese Tenmoku Shinoragashi bowl

A dark bowl whose rim seems to have been dipped in sea foam.

The lower part of the bowl is covered with a black-brown tenmoku glaze, almost matt. The whole upper part is wrapped in a wide band of sand-coloured glaze, speckled with blue-green, which runs down the sides in irregular drips, like drops frozen on their way. The same band appears inside, around a deep, glossy black centre.

Tenmoku is a dark, iron-rich glaze. Its name comes from Mount Tianmu in China, from where Japanese monks once brought back tea bowls; it has since become a great classic of Japanese ceramics.

The shape is round and fairly deep, on a small foot. At 13.2 cm in diameter and 7.4 cm high, the bowl sits comfortably in one hand.

The running glaze makes each bowl different: the length of the drips, the intensity of the blue-green and the line where they stop vary from piece to piece.

For a bowl of rice, miso soup, ochazuke or simply tea. Made in Japan.

Highlights

• Tenmoku glaze: a deep black-brown, a classic of Japanese ceramics.
• Running glaze: a sand and blue-green band that flows freely down the sides.
• Two faces: a glossy black interior ringed with the same drip.
• Practical size: 13.2 cm, for rice, soup or tea.
• Natural variations: each bowl has its own drips.

Product information

• Type: bowl
• Material: porcelain
• Origin: made in Japan (Toki-Tajimi area, Gifu Prefecture, home of Mino ware)
• Dimensions: Ø 13.2 cm, height 7.4 cm
• Shape: round, deep, small foot
• Colours: black-brown, sand, blue-green
• Finish: tenmoku glaze and running glaze, glossy inside
• Presentation: sold individually
• Style: traditional Japanese

How to use

The black of the tenmoku sets off white rice and the colours of a broth. It also suits a small donburi, a cabbage salad or a bowl of cereal in the morning.

As for care, this porcelain bowl is dishwasher and microwave safe.

Frequently asked questions

What is tenmoku?

It is a dark, black or brown, iron-rich glaze. Its name comes from Mount Tianmu in China, from where tea bowls were brought to Japan.

Are the drips the same on every bowl?

No. The glaze runs freely during firing: the length and colour of the drips vary from bowl to bowl.